Lecture LESSON FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, 2019

[Sunny Irene Roth]

Hi all,

Here is your lesson for the first week of March.

This month's lessons are very meaty. Its all about how to be a Fearless Writer. Please be sure to print off the lesson and then do a lot of reflecting on it and then answer the questions and post them under this thread.

Please let me know if your have any questions.

Have a productive week!
Irene S. Roth

 

[Mel Corbett]

Hi Irene. Here are my responses. Do most people PM their responses?

1. Do you write authentically?

I think that's the problem I'm having in my WIP right now actually. I think somewhere I veered away from channelling high school Mel and am getting too caught up in focusing on describing things instead of putting what my high school self's reactions would have been in the situations that my MC is in. I stopped being authentic and started getting too caught up in craft, which should be a second draft and revision concern, not a raw words concern.

2. Do you write in flow?

Sometimes. As I wrote above, I've been struggling getting the words down and finding that flow state with this book. I did well with the first two books, but this third book is a struggle, but I think that I've been too focused on trying to up my description game instead of just getting the scenes out on the page. So, I'm going to try to relax about the craft and descriptions and just focus on channeling my high school self and putting her into these crazy superhero situations. The first two books were a pleasure to write and I just hit that flow state right away. This one I just started this week and it's a struggle.

3. Which of the internal barriers to fearlessness do you need to work on specifically?

I need to not worry about grammar and spelling and descriptions, and get to the meat of the story. The flow and rhythm of it. I can always come back later and add in the descriptions and flesh it out more. So, I guess, be myself and stop comparing myself to other authors.

4. How can you take one concrete step this week to become more of a fearless writer?

I need to focus on channeling high school Melissa and get my head back in her reactions, seeing the world as black and white and remembering what it was like to be 17. Lol. Also, I need to just get the words out, and then I can come back and revise later.

 

[Sunny Irene Roth]

Hi Mel,

Sure! This is a GREAT place to post your responses.

1. It can be hard to write authentically. However, if you do a short centering exercise before writing you may be able to tap into your high school Mel. It write for YA too. So, it can be hard to do at first. But you will get there with patience!

2. That's great Mel! I would worry about craft and descriptions in my next draft. Enjoy the first draft and writing in flow. I truly believe that is the best part of being a writer.

3. That is so important Mel. I truly feel comparison kills flow and authenticity. Try as much as possible to be yourself.

4. Great!!! If you need help to write together or how to do a centering exercise, please email me.

Take care, and keep up the great work!
Irene

 

[D.L. Gioe]

Sorry I'm responding to this one so late! That whole spring break thing really caused havoc with my schedule! But I did read this the first week and reflect on it over the past two, so here are my thoughts:




Do you write authentically?
I've given this so much thought, especially with all the conversations over the past few years about how to write about another person's experience. Can I, from my limited cultural/socio-economic/personal perspective write authentically about anything outside my own experiences? Does any attempt to portray a character who is not obviously derived from facets of my identity require sensitivity readers?

Fiction demands invention, and invention can be based on authentic experience but will also require expanding beyond the realm of what you personally know to the realm of what you believe someone else would feel in a given situation based on their background(s). Every character will be a blend of you, the author, and those you've encountered along your way. The best you can do is to try to put on their shoes and walk in them for a while; to consider the roads those shoes have traveled to get to the point where you met them, and to portray it all in the most authentic manner you are capable of. To do otherwise would be to severely limit the field of literature. But to do it well, you MUST write as authentically as you can, and to reflect on your writing each step of the way. I try to do this. To interrogate my own assumptions and the characters they form to make sure that they are true to the beliefs I want to gain currency.

2. Do you write in flow?
Not always, but when I do, man does that feel great!

3. Which of the internal barriers to fearlessness do you need to work on especially?
Creating the distraction-free time. I'm making progress, but I"m still some way from the 5-6 hours per day where I'd like to be. I hope that I can achieve that when my son starts school next year.

4. How can you take one concrete step this week to become more of a fearless writer?
Keep on keepin' on.