All the Senses

I'm rewriting a novel for hire, and one of the notes I received on my first draft was "more physical descriptions." I've seen the illustrations for the book (a children's novel attached to an on-line game), so I didn't think physical descriptions were that important. In fact, I don't particularly like long descriptive passages that bog down the story. So I was struggling with how to address my note for the rewrite. Another writer friend gave me a tip. Here it is:

TIP: Some of the most powerful physical descriptions aren't the way people and things look. Use all the senses, including sounds, smells, tastes, sensations like temperature and texture, and the 6th sense.

So, when I introduced a 35-year-old woman into the action line of the novel I sprinkled in a note about her age. But I didn't say anything else about her looks. When she entered the room another key character "relaxed." Then the text describes her quite simply:

"She radiated peaceful energy and she smelled like lavender."

Later in the chapter there's a phrase "her dark, fringed hair" and a few paragraphs down two words about her clothing, "simple robe," but the sentence that introduces her relies on senses other than sight.

Thanks for the tip, Lucy!

Lightning* Writing --a daily warm-up exercise

Inspired by Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

The goal of this warm-up exercise is to keep our hands moving across the page. It is a writing practice that is done without self judgement.

No attention is given to spelling or grammar. No attention is given to "good" or "lovely" words, "fly" or "marketable" ideas, "gripping" or "sympatico" characters.

Our full attention is given to stringing words together, one after another. Our goal is to envoke our subconscious creative source. Some days the writing will be extraordinarily lame. That's good and as it should be. But sometimes we'll actually strike gold and discover something wonderful, like a character's deepest fear or the most hilarious line of dialog.

Instructions: Begin with a simple prompt, such as "I remember . . . Or I smell . . . I want to write . . . " If you realize that your hand is no longer moving, write the prompt down and begin again. Write without thinking for 20 minutes.

TIP: We're inviting the muse to come and play. If we open that dialog every day she'll join us, sometimes when we least expect it.

* notes on the name: "Lightning writing" is Goldberg's name. Because I first came to this practice when I read her book, that's what I call it. (I've noticed many other writers describe a similar practice, but call it different names.) 'Lightning' might refer to speed, though I don't believe speed is the goal. For me the 'lightning' refers to a still place where a spark of inspiration may strike and, if the conditions are right, light a fire. The bonus is when I practice regularly, I notice a lightening that goes with everything I do, from creative efforts to less attractive chores.

Finding story ideas

A former student who is gainfully employed as a non-fiction writer wrote to me recently. He said,

"I know I could write a pretty good story, but I can't seem to will myself to start."

My response:

Bottom line: it’s tough to think and create at a keyboard all day and expect ourselves to think and create for fun in all that ‘extra’ time. Your artist self probably wants to dig in the dirt or whittle wood or play rock guitar--anything that uses different motor skills and brain patterns.

So, first give yourself free play time to nurture your artist self and then play with story ideas. (See writer and creativity coach Julia Cameron for how to fill the creativity well.)

There's the time crunch thing, too. At every stage in life we're faced with multiple demands on our time and attention. Students have multiple classes, a job and a social life. Young careerists have credits to build. Parents have kids to feed and chauffeur. So where do we find the time to generate non-paying, speculative fiction?

My solution is to work with small chunks of time a little bit every day. Even when I have "no" time I can always find fifteen minutes to jot down notes and questions to myself. Anything to keep the pump primed. Then on days when I actually have a couple of hours I'm ready to go. The alternative is to wait for long stretches of really productive time, which may never come, and then spend most of that treasured stretch figuring out how to get started again. I hate this second scenario, so I try to stick with the first. To keep the momentum going I write something, anything everyday.

The cool thing about the small chunks approach is that it doesn't take a strong will to make the commitment. Herculean discipline is desirable when it's time to wield a strong arm. Joyful creation loves a light hearted touch.

TIP: Give your creative work first effort of the day. Then go to work for someone else.