Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler
“ Writing with intention will give you a clear sense of purpose your book serves and what you’d like to do with it.” Paula Margulies, Book Publicity and Promotion Expert from this Writer’s Edge blog post.
Photo credit: dreamstimefree
I found my word for 2014!
As many others announced the one word that would guide them in the new year, I came up empty.
But, the word “intention” has been bubbling inside of me for a while and I have claimed it as my guide for the year.
What a relief. I was beginning to get frustrated with myself for not being able to identify the one word that would capture what I wanted and needed my writing to do as I move forward.
As I travel through the various phases of my own memoir writing, the terms intention, purpose, vision, mission keep coming up.
To me, intention requires being connected to my purpose for writing my memoir. It has served as my guide and has helped me answer the following questions:
* Why do I even want to write this book?
* Who is this book for?
* How will it help those who read it?
These are all questions any agent or publisher will ask, so I need to ask them for myself and be able to answer then succinctly, no matter which route to publication I take.
Here are 7 Memoir Writing Tips About Writing with Intention:
1. I have to find ways to get past my inner critic. You know, the one who says:
· What makes you think anyone will want to read your story?
· Your story isn’t unique.
· You can’t write that well anyway.
· Who cares?
I had to put my inner critic in her place. Her name is Gertrude. Here’s how I did it by writing out a dialogue with her.
2. I need to show up and write on a schedule.
Sometimes just the act of writing words unlocks the creative juices:
* Free Write– helps when I’m stuck. Writing words even if they don’t make sense.
* Journal– writing thoughts, feelings, and reactions helps me to clarify and focus.
3. I need to trust in the process.
Sometimes when I start to write, I have no idea how the story will unfold. I may start in the middle and if I let the writing flow, I eventually find the beginning and end.
After I show up, I need to get out the way of the story and let the words flow. I can go back and change later.
4. Writing with Intention has helped me to identify the main themes of my story.
Writing with intention has helped me find the heart of my story, I’ve been able to identify the themes to shape my story around.
This made it easier to stay true to the themes, which became the foundation for the story structure.
5. Taking time to pause and think has helped me be clear on my intention.
This has helped me to tap into memories and make connections about their meaning from my adult perspective. Sometimes my best ideas flow when I take time to walk in the garden or sit in church.
As writers know, we really are working when we’re staring out the window.
6. I need to keep my overall intention in mind as I revise.
If I am clear on my main message and the audience I am targeting, I can approach suggestions from editors and beta readers with a sense of purpose, staying true to my story while remaining open to constructive feedback.
7. Writing with intention has been my guiding light and is helping me get to the finish line:
I am taking the time to write it right because I do believe that I have a story to tell and that I am the only one who can tell it.
As I reflect on the past year, I realize, I have been writing with intention all along. Now I claim it as my focus for 2014 as I get ready to publish and market what I’ve written.
Of course, intention needs to be followed by action but I know being clear on my intentions will speed up the process.
How about you? Do you feel writing with intention has helped guide you?
I’d love to hear from you. Please leave your comments below~
2/12: “Crossing the Cultural Divide: From Insanity to Serenity“, a guest post on Janet Given’s blog.
Next Week: Ken Myers, Memoir Writer, Blogger and Entrepreneur will discuss ” 8 Tips for Being Kind and Gentle When Writing Memoir.”
Your word for the year is intention and mine is imagination. I believe it could be argued that one fires up the other.
Thank you for your tips. Two stand out: 1. Why do I even want to write this book? With the memoir revolution in full swing, why does my story matter? I think I am getting some answers to this one through tele-seminars and reflections from other writers like you.
And your 2. Writing with Intention has helped me to identify the main themes of my story. I have to ask “What is at the heart of my story?” This is the one I’m pondering now. So I show up and write every day letting the creative juices flow and looking for that breakthrough.
I think I’ll name my inner critic Gretchen–ha!
Isn’t it amazing, Marian how much happens when we become mindful of our intentions for writing our stories? Feel free to name your inner critic “Gretchen” 🙂 Thanks so much for kicking off the comments again. I’m happy you found the post useful. I agree intention and imagination do fuel one another.
Intention. Great word choice, Kathy. How do divide up your time between writing and staying active on social media? Do you have a set schedule for each day?
Well, Pat, I do try to maintain a regular writing schedule but you know how life is. Let’s me just say, I do the best I can which is to try to carve out at least 4 hours each day for writing and social media-sometimes more and sometimes less depending on the rest of my life.One thing I’ve learned is that social media can be very distracting and can take away from writing. I’m working on that. During these days of finalizing my memoir for publication, I’m spending more time writing than being on social media. How’s that for a round-about answer? 🙂
Yes, Kathy, you have been writing with intention all along. And studying the art and craft of writing with intention all along. And networking with all the pros with intention all along. And attending professional conferences, and establishing your platform and carrying out the dozens of duties that come with writing and publishing. Your intentionality (is that a word?) has been a joy to watch and that’s why I KNOW your book will be grand and polished and professional. You are an amazing lady, and a role model for all of us!
Hugs,
Linda
Oh, Linda, you are too kind but I certainly appreciate all your generous comments! It’s true, I feel as if I have learned all the hard lessons about memoir writing with this first memoir. I’d like to think my second memoir–which I have started, will go more smoothly. Your memoir, Grandma’s Letters from Africa inspired me in my own writing and your blog posts have resonated with me along the way so thank you for all you do to help me and so many others on their memoir writer’s journey. So wonderful to hear from you. I plan to get to Mo this year some time so I hope we can reconnect at the Main Street Diner in Carrollton! 🙂
Blessings and Hugs,
Kathy
“Intention” is a great word for 2014, Kathy! It’s positive and forward-thinking, active and doable. Well chosen!
I still struggle with my inner critic — perhaps every creative person does. Funny, but she/he/it doesn’t show up ALL the time; just some times. Now if I can figure out how to banish it forever!
And my best ideas seem to show up during the least “appropriate” times — like when I’m in the shower or when I’m just drifting off to sleep, ha!
Thanks, Debbie! About that inner critic,and we all have one, in a strange way, I think he/she keeps us honest and helps us critique our own work. After that, he/she needs to be banished when the peskiness becomes disruptive! As far as the flow of creative ideas, I know what you mean. When the muse calls, we need to listen. I’ve been known to get out of bed and write when that happens. So I try to get it out of my system during my waking hours so I can get my sleep. Oh, the life of a writer! Thanks, as always for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Kathy, You’ve picked a gem of a word. I try to write with intention every time I sit down to put words on the screen or on paper. I also find it a wonderful way of living every moment of every day, whether I’m writing or doing the dishes. Without intention, I believe I’d be lost.
Thanks, Joan. I agree, intention drives our actions. Somehow, it held more power when I became mindful of it. I appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Intention. Yes a very good word, one worth a few moments of pause to think. I may not always articulate intention, but I believe it underlies most anything I write. As you say, it may not show for awhile. It may not be fully formed at the time. For example, Adventures of a Chilehead began as a trio of fun stories I wanted to record for posterity and fun, and those stories have grown into a book. Intention? To bring some lightness to the memoir world, to celebrate my love of chile, and in the process I discovered mini-memoir. Spreading the word about this exciting new sub-niche is a new intention.
I especially like your point about “trusting the process.” That’s been my mantra for three or four years. It takes so much stress out of preparing so many things. Glad we share that.
Congratulations, Sharon on the launch of your mini-memoir, Chilehead! I love the idea of “bringing lightness to the memoir world.” It may not have started as an intention but you trusted your own process and gave birth to this creative gem. Everyone, do yourself a favor and check out Chilehead on Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Chilehead-A-Mini-Memoir-Recipes/dp/0615925227.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Kathy,
I wish I would’ve found you three-and-a-half years ago when I began writing my memoir, JoyRide. “Write with intention”–you pegged it. I have a “Gertrude” too and she’s a party-pooper, a real downer. I call her “the nag in the attic.” She is self-opiniated and not very truthful. Through the writing journey, I’ve learned how to manage her by “Writing with intention,” by reminding myself the purpose for writing my memoir. On many occasions, this was the one thing that silenced the “nag,” (a.k.a ‘Gertrude’) and kept me engaged in my passion of writing to touch hearts. Thank you for a great article. Happy Writing.
Welcome, Pamela! It’s so nice to “meet” you. I just visited your lovely website at http://pamelakoefoed.com and learned more about your intriguing memoir,JoyRide: Life, Death and Forgiveness. Congratulations on its recent publication and on your 5-star reviews on Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/JoyRide-Death-Forgiveness-Pamela-Koefoed/dp/0989687309. Thank you so much for sharing your own memoir writer’s journey with us. It does appear we share a common bond–Gertrude and sharing hope through our stories of triumph over hardships. I agree, being connected to our main purpose for writing does help”silence the nag”. Best wishes with your memoir. Email me at kpooler63@gmail.com if you’d like to share more in a guest post! I’m so glad you enjoyed the post.Hope to see you again.
For much of my writing life, I believed in “goals” I planned my year, month, and weeks around goals. My husband used to tell me I made impossible goals, no one could meet. Yes, they were quite ambitious extending to the content of the works themselves. And I would fail too many times because of my “goals” Several years ago, I began calling them intentions instead. What a different. They were things I “intended” to do or what I “intended” my writing projects. It was magic for me. Everything became much more doable and relevant. And without the heavy weight of goals to meet, my intentions were what I seriously intended but if I fell short I didn’t have a breakdown of faith in myself as a writer over it. For me, a change in semantics made all the difference.
After a long absence, Kathy, I’m back, happy to be submitting.
Dear Barbara, it is wonderful to have you back! Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt insight about how a word can be life-changing. I love how you describe your transformation. Thanks so much for sharing your story. Hope you’ll come back. Best wishes with your writing. 🙂