HOW DID THEY WRITE

Recently, I was reading about some quirks of writing habits among famous writers. I wondered if I had some--not the same--but ones original only to me. Do I write better in certain places? At certain time of day or night? Do I only write on the computer, or with pen and pad first? Is there a certain color of ink I use to write, or sign my name?

I write most anywhere. If I am meeting a deadline or doing final edits, I am only comfortable in my office at the main computer or on my laptop. If I'm writing off the top of my head, or creating a first draft of a story, I take my Acer mini to Jack's Pond, Discovery Lake, or Starbucks. Or out on the patio.

Once upon a time, I could write into the wee hours of the night. Now, I am into writing in the morning or early afternoon when I feel fresher. If I'm on deadline or editing a story or piece, I can work at night but the creative side of my brain, my imagination, is not as active late in the day as it used to be.

I often don't begin writing on any electronic device. I use a yellow-lined pad and a pen. If writing a story, I begin writing and continue until my first spurt of inspiration is run through. Then I will go to the computer, input it, print off the last page for my next beginning point. When writing an article or essay, I complete the first draft before going to the computer. I believe that by putting my work on the computer at this point, I am editing/rewriting the first draft.

And I do have this one quirk regarding ink. For example, when writing in my journal, I swtich colors of ink with each days entry. I think it gives my journal a more colorul, insightful look to my work. And when I autograph my books at a book signing or to send off through the mail, I create my message and sign my name in purple ink. Maybe it is something to do with the poem --when I grow old, I will wear purple.

Here are a few habits of the famous: John Nichols (The Milagro Bean Fields) writes in the tub beginning at 4 a.m. He writes by longhand on the back olf junk mail.

Tennessee Williams wrote "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" on his favorite writing material--an assortment of hotel stationery.

Robert Pirsig (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance) wrote his book on index cards.

Count Leo Tolstoy and William Burroughs both used scissors and paste to "rearrange" the drafts of stories.

Toni Morrison writes on yellow legal pads with "a nice number two pencil."

John updike wrote with pen or pencil, no computer for him.

Ernest Hemingway wrote standng up.

What are your habits, or quirks?

CHILDREN WRITE LIFE

"How can you sit down to write until you have stood up to live?" (Thoreau)

I was going through some of my journals today and came across this story I had written from some book I am sure (which one I didn't make note of) I must have been reading at the time:

A poor woman living in the projects could not give her children a room of their own. But she did give each of them a blank spiral notebook. She told each child it was his very own; he owned it. The only thing she asked was that they write in that "book" each day. She didn't read them, letting them know they were free to write what they wanted. ***

Can you imagine what stories those notebooks contained? Did they write from their imagination? Did they tell the stories of the last soccer game, where they could have made the goal, but didn't--or did? Did they write poetry? Or letters to each other, a relative, to that mother? Or did they begin a memoir, painting a picture of what their life was like in that project, including the dreams, hopes, plans they had for gettng out of there?

You have that opportunity. Can you do less than these children? Write today, write in a spiral notebook, on the computer, on your hand--just write. Get your stories out there.

ARE YOU JOURNALING

"The life which is unexplained is not worth living." (Plato)

Tonight, I want to encourage you to keep a journal. You should always carry a small notebook or index cards with you--this can be the core of your journaling. I carry one or the other, then transfer them to a larger journal, my computer, or use my notes to create new fiction, essays, articles or poetry.

Do I write something substantial every day? No. As you all know, I certainly don't write in this blog everyday. But the simplier question is: do I write everyday. And the answer is yes.

A great deal of "activities" can be called writing. I have recently published my third book (Pink Poodle Pie (Other Tales of Getting Even) which is available on Amazon. com. Any author knows that publication is only the beginning of the process. I've been writing and sending out press releases, mailing postcards, writing copy for book signing lectures, and all those emails to friends and family to tell them all about my newly born "baby."

And, of course, there are all those other writing projects I have in progress: another quilt story collection, a romantic suspense, and a nonfiction book of my husband's WW II experiences. I need to research publishers for a completed novella (Trusting Strangers is a romantic suspense also), do the final (for the second or third time) edits/rewrites, write a synopsis, and come up with a cover letter that really hooks a publisher. More writing.

I write every day. Whether published, famous or not, writing every day allows me to honestly call myself a writer. Even if it's only in my journal.

LET'S WRITE CHRISTMAS!

I know we are to write/send out our Christmas manuscripts in June but are you in the mood to do so at that time of the year? Why not write while you are "in the mood?"

I began to put together some drafts of article ideas,have written two new Chrismas short stories, and a few poems while the season is upon us. It seems much easier to stir up the muse when carols are playing on the radio, holiday movies are popping up on several TV channels, and the tree is winking and blinking in multi-colored glory. This is the first season I've attempted this "writing in season" and it works for me!

TRUE JOY

Keep a touch of Christmas
Tucked within your heart.
Remember its sacred meaning
The Holy birth that heralded its start.

Keep a smile, but share some too
With those you meet along the way.
Tell them how God sent his Beloved Son
To give us each the true joy of Christmas Day.

Barbara Deming (c)

Merry Christmas and happy writing about it.

Best Wishes

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF MY READERS.

I hope, in 2010, to treat you to more writings--on a more timely basis.

Until then:

Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised to anyone.

WHEN LIFE INTERFERS

We are our own worse enemies when it comes to selecting the priorities of our lives. My first love is writing--and reading. Do I devote a great deal of my life to these? No. At least, not at the present time. I have left life ovetake that love.

I would like to blame this on my parents who instilled in me a work ethic that has spilled over into my volunteering responsibilities. I was taught that you give the job you have one hundred percent. Therefore, I can't say no to extra projects and find myself spending more and more time on them than on my writing. I am feeling overwhelmed again and know this is not good for me healthwise. But I have an out in March--gosh, that is still three plus months away, isn't it?--so I attempt to plug on.

And then I run up against nasty events I don't want to be a part of and it dwells so much on my mind, I can't concentrate on my writing. And I miss those days on the computer, the walks with my notebook or laptop to the pond where I test new ideas, and I am getting grumpy over the whole thing.

This is a short lecture from me to you writers--don't get involved in outside things. Write, be with your family, write, enjoy that hobby, write, take a walk with your loved one, and NEVER VOLUNTEER FOR ANYTHING.

Hubby Ray said he learned that lesson in World War II--I was too young to learn it then, and haven't managed to follow his lead--yet.

WRITING FOREVER

I have been having my writing groups do in-class writings on the first class of the month since we began the new semester. One of the assignments was to write about your writing--why you write, when you started, etc. Here is my 10-minute piece:

I might have been born a writer. I know I was born talking and making up stories. But my first story to share was written at age ten--up a mulberry tree, hiding from the call to chores.

I progressed to poetry instead of birthday cards. Then followed essays and more short stories. It seems I had to be writing, no matter what was happening around me. I still feel that way; want to share my thoughts, imagination, love for words, whether I get published or paid or not. Maybe that is why I am in front of you on Wednesday--because I want to share what I read, learn, and/or write.

When married the first time, I learned to hide my writing. It was a source of trouble in a failing marriage; the time, I was told, was better spent working, caring for my family, or running from him. Once my scribblings were found and destroyed, but I still wrote whenever possible--in secret.

No one can kill the desire to write. I've proven that. I think I would shrivel up and die a bitter, old woman without it. And I still love to share--even if I'm not good enough for a traditional publisher, I'll pay so others can read my work.

Recently, I received an email that I had won third prize in a national anthology contest. What an exhilarating feeling to know hundreds of others will read my work. But I got the same thrill when one of my student's first story was published, when another hit the big time in Highlights for Children, when another had a poem accepted and another was accepted by submitting a nostalgic piece. I feel that same surge of love for writing rise.

We all have to write if no one but God sees it.