eXpository Writing: My Writing Process
I am participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge. Today’s letter is X.
One of my favorite parts of the blogging world is making friends from all over. With some, I can’t even remember how we met — was it in an online community? Did we start reading each other’s blogs because a friend recommended?
Rabia from The Liebers is one such online/blogging friend. I cannot remember exactly how we began reading each other’s work, but eventually she guest posted for me during my first days with Flash (one is an awesome recipe for Pizza Bubbles, and the other is a great post on Chore Charts for kids). We’ve continued to interact, and now she’s tagged me in a blog author tour writing process tag. (And what English teacher doesn’t want to talk about her writing process!?)
Before I get to my answers, be sure you go check out Rabia’s blog and then the book where one of the chapters is hers! You’ll love The Mother of All Meltdowns. And return here on May 1 to see the interview I have with Rabia and a couple of other bloggers from the book.
1. What am I working on?
In the course of one day, I’m generally working on a blog post for my blog, an announcement for my courses, a post for Mamavation, some images for blog purposes, and emails to random contacts for various projects. What I’d like to be working on is my second, third, fourth, fifth (you get the point) children’s book. I have tons of ideas swirling around in my head, but I just don’t take a moment to write them down.
2. How does my work differ from others in my genre?
This is a good question. I’m not really sure! I think I bring an element of raw truth to what I write. I don’t try to put on airs or pretend I’m someone I’m not.
When I write children’s stories, I’m always in the head of the children in the book. For whatever reason, the 10-year old me sticks out most in my mind. I can be 10 again with no problem and write a story from that perspective (this will probably be handy as Miss Sassy Pants rounds that double digit age).
My sense of humor is also kind of strange, and kids like me because of it. I can use that sense of humor to really connect with them. Now if I can just get in to some classrooms to make those connections!
3. Why do I write what I write?
I have always written children’s stories because I really like kids. When I used to babysit the kids across the street, I made up stories all the time. Then, in college, I took an independent study so I could just focus on writing for children. Miss Sassy Pants came along, and she loved my crazy stories. Every night, I had to make a new one for her. Now, she enjoys making up silly stories with me, and she’s even started writing and illustrating some of her own.
As for the blog, most of what I write is a means of creative release. My job allows for some intellectual creativity, but I do like to talk about more than just literature or grammar.
4. How does my writing process work?
Any of my former students reading this will probably smile a little when I say that my first step is to “throw up on paper.” This gets my ideas out of my mind so I can revisit and rework later. If I know a specific project is coming up, I’m generally brainstorming my response(s) and making mental mind maps of my thoughts.
Once I write the piece, I reread for any grammatical mistakes. I usually fix these mistakes as I’m writing or typing, but that doesn’t mean they don’t happen.
If I have time, I leave my writing alone for 24 hours (I actually left this post alone for 48 hours!). One of my first college English professors said it was smart to let our writing “bake.” When you read too closely to after having written, you miss things. Your brain fills in the gaps that may be there because you were moving quickly. A day later, you’ll see things you may not have seen if you try to edit or revise too soon.
Really important pieces (like my children’s book or a sponsored blog post) will earn a phone call or visit to my mom. She is always my editor, and I find that reading out loud helps me find errors in coherency when otherwise I wouldn’t have noticed.
The Blog Tour continues! Next week, on May 5, Kristin from Little Mama Jama will write about her process. Kristin and I met through Mamavation and our youngest kids are literally days apart in age, and our almost 3-year olds are only about a month apart. We have a lot in common. Be sure to visit her.
Also participating is my girl, Molly, from Miss Molly. Molly and I also got to know each other through Mamavation when we were finalists for the Bootcamp 17. Molly’s youngest is one day younger than Flash, and she is all kinds of awesome when it comes to the social media world. Pay her a visit!
So, how do you write? Do you like to write all at one time? Do you do it in pieces? Share with me!
I like the idea of “throwing up on paper.” Not literally, of course! (Would you try to catch that??)
If it’s full of good words? Maybe. 🙂
I never get tired of hearing about other writer’s writing processes!
I can relate to your barfing metaphor. Much as I hate actual barfing, I am a *very* messy writer, especially with first drafts. It used to embarrass me actually, but after reading Anne Lamott’s classic “Bird by Bird” I realized I wasn’t alone. Up until then, I figured that “real” writers wrote sparkling, perfect sentences the moment they sat down.
~Tui Snider~ Dropping by from the A to Z challenge! 😀
@TuiSnider on Twitter
My blog: Tui Snider’s Offbeat & Overlooked Travel
I am also part of the #StoryDam team, a friendly writing community!
Oh yes. I must get it all out! I try to tell my students that NO ONE is a perfect writer ever. And many distinguished authors may still feel that their published work could be improved. Thank you for being so supportive during this blogging challenge!