I never knew the importance of a writing buddy. That is, until I got one. (Or two.)
A few weeks ago, I received an inquiring email from one of my favorite bloggers. You all know her as Random Chick.
She kindly reached out to me with respects to the book I’ve been trying to write for what seems like an eternity. She knows I’ve been having a hell of a time figuring out a few things!
You see… I’ve never been to college. I’ve never even taken a single writing class. I’ve never had the pleasure of being a part of a writing group. And I’ve certainly never had a writing buddy! Heck, I’ve just been writing every day of my life since I was nine years old.
Aside from sharing preview blog posts with my pal Michael C, mostly I am out here writing blindly. From my gut. With no direction, no clue, and no guidance.
Yes, I know there are books I can read to help me learn all of those rules of grammar. And maybe one day I will get around to that. I will never forget the comment my grandfather, Poppa Sye, made to me when I was freaking out about weather or not I should make one sentence into two sentences or, if I should use a semi-colon. Poppa Sye said, “That’s what editors are for. You just tell your story.” Ever since then, that’s what I’ve been trying to do.
I can also pick up books about ‘how to write a book’. But, I tend to learn by doing. I’ve discovered that I learn best through my actions.
And there is one book in particular that I will read (Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird).
[I’ve promised KellyPea & Random Chick with a pinky swear that I will buy and read that book. And I take my pinkly swears very seriously.]
Of course my mother is always good for bouncing off ideas. She is a super smarty and she is always willing to take a peek or hard look at some of the pieces I have worked on. As lovely as that is, and as much as I appreciate her efforts, it’s just not the same as having personal contact with fellow writers or getting hands on feedback.
I have to tell ya’ll, that I was literally blown away and utterly inspired after I received my first email from Random Chick chock full of suggestions and commentary on the rough draft of my chapter one.
Not only has she been kind enough to offer up an open and honest opinion, she gave me the best ideas, direction and notes…Ever.
I was so inspired that I found the courage and the strength to dig out all of the journals regarding the 10 year span when I worked in the bar. Fortunately that time of my life has been very well documented which will come in handy for when I am stuck. I’ve already started re-reading some of them and I’ve begun the process of organizing them into chronological order.
Since last weekend was such a waste, and since this weekend is a THREE DAY weekend, I am taking full advantage of my time. Let’s see what this new keyboard can handle when I am pounding the keys during my re-write of chapter one.
The most amazing thing to me was that after all of this time and after staring at my rough draft for so long, I had no idea what to do with it. I knew it had holes in it. I knew it needed to be fleshed out, but when a project like this is so big, and so overwhelming its can be hard to see what I need to do. I needed ‘New Eyes’ and a fresh look by someone willing to tell me what was so obviously lacking.
There was a time not to long ago; in fact it was probably only a week before Random Chick contacted me when I wrestled with the idea of deleting the whole thing and chucking the entire concept right into the garbage. Why do I need to write about my past anyway? Right? Wrong.
I am more motivated than ever. I am more focused than ever. Having Random Chick’s input makes me feel like someone just handed me a compass in the middle of a dark, giant, overgrown forest. I am no longer lost. It is so nice to have direction.
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