Rejuvenating Your Writing Chops

Hi Everyone, Audra here.

I heard an interesting analogy on the radio as I was driving to my monthly writers' meeting. The piece started with, “Would you serve prime rib to an infant?” it continued with “if you’re learning to swim, would you compare yourself to Michael Phelps?” There were other comparisons along the way, but you get the picture. Most logical people would smile and shake their heads with an enthusiastic, "Of Course Not!"

Children must grow and nourish their bodies through development phases until the brain and taste buds can appreciate the food placed before them. The novice swimmer must “pay their dues” in the water swimming laps, developing muscle control, perfecting strokes, and a multitude of other fitness exercises.  

Photo by Benjamin Wong on Unsplash

But such is not always the case where writers are concerned.

As writers, we’re intelligent people, right? So why do we compare our accomplishments as writers to others? Is it because we all know how to speak English? Is it because we've taken composition all through school? Is it because of our love of creative writing? Because we're avid readers?

We, authors, are very delicate creations. Our psyches are fragile, all in tune with the passionate stories that play in the fertile fields of our minds. When I say passionate, I’m not talking romantic, even though romantic fiction is my thing. I’m alluding to the creative gift God has placed in our hearts. Those stories that are so real to us that we have to write them.

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

I could go down the path of emotional attachment to our storylines, characters and words, but that’s not what this post is about. 

I want to focus on the muscle development of our brains. The skills honed through repeated practice and revision. The unfolding of our talents as we work hard at our craft. 

As the only child of immigrant parents, I was often left to my own devices as my parents worked long days to get ahead in their new country. My dad read Bible stories to me every Sunday afternoon and my love of reading was born. Stories equaled adventure! All through school I gravitated toward creative writing, pouring my emotions onto the page and into my characters’ lives.

My high school creative writing teacher labeled me "sappy." Though probably meant as an insult, I embraced it. I loved romance even back then! 

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After I married and our children arrived, I became a stay-at-home mom. I tried my hand at writing a romance novel. 

18 years later, my first novel was published.

Before a second book could be published, I returned to the world of day job.

16 years later, I’m returning to my first love - writing.

That’s 34 years of story scribbles, yucky writing, writing workshops, writing organizations, multiple typewriters and computers, rejections, rewrites …

All that angst spent becoming an author remained in brain, but with disuse, the term sagging middle applied to everything about me, including the body of my stories! I’m rebuilding my writing muscles by writing something everyday.

My lyrical story-telling skills are slowly returning after years of writing administrative narrative.

My confidence in writing active scenes is building with every to-be verb I identify and replace.

Writing fiction is hard work. It requires mental stamina and digging deep into your well for that personal/emotional touch only you can give your story. 

DEDICATION TO MY DREAM

As an author, you never stop learning about your craft. At the ACFW conference this year, I continued to gain insight into what makes an author.

The authors I talked to all said they have a set a schedule for writing. They treat it as a business. There is a goal they reach every day ranging from 500-1000 new words a day, or completing a scene, or revisions, etc. At least 5 days a week. Every week.

That dedication builds those creative muscles, lubricates the skill joints, keeps the inspiration and creative juices flowing.

Adobe stock licensed 

Hmmm, seems we've circled back to Prime Rib, LOL!

We’ve got to work for our success. We’ve got to be dedicated writing-gym members who set aside time to keep our writing brains alert and in shape just as much as our bodies.

I’ve always been opposed to the theory of “butt-in-chair-every-day” even if you don’t feel the love. I’ve discovered, it’s not so much about the feeling the love in the story I’m working on, but rather, keeping the rhythm and practice in place each day.

In my writing group this month, we talked about morning pages. You’ve heard of them, right? Sit down every day and scribble away in a notebook for however many minutes or pages you subscribe to. The thought of writing for just dumping words out of your brain never appealed to me. I avoided it like the plague.

BUT, as one clever friend in our group offered, how about revamping the morning pages routine to help you with an area of your book where you are stuck? 

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

That next day, I opened a notebook and wrote down a problem area which happened to be historical nouns describing a character with a love of plants. My goal was to fill up a page with descriptive words and actions and phrases that I could turn to when I might be stuck in a scene with this character.

“Morning pages” suddenly took on a whole new meaning and offered a challenge with a tangible reward.

This is all part of your work out. Your muscle building. Your skill-building, talent-digging, prose-loving conditioning you need to succeed.

And when you’ve completed your task, reward yourself with prime rib...or a swim.

How about you? What keeps your internal writing machine honed? Leave a comment for a random drawing of a sweet little Thanksgiving gift.