Becoming a Better Writer in 2015
By Barbara O'Neal | November 26, 2014 |
My friend and I always spend a weekend in December creating vision boards for the new year. This is not like making New Year’s Resolutions. It’s a
Written Words by Sophia Louise
process that requires a lot of time and thought. We ask ourselves what this year has brought and how that feels, and what we’d like to see the new year hold. Then we make boards that hold our intentions, with photos and words (she uses more words, I use more pictures) and put the board somewhere it can be seen.
I’ve been pulling together my writing schedule for the next year and it occurred to me that this vision board process might be great for the writing life, too. [pullquote]
What would you like your 2015 writing life to hold?
[/pullquote]Often writers will make quantitative goals: “I want to write 100,000 words this year,” or “complete my novel.” Those goals are great, and I always include them in my planning. It is much more difficult to achieve a goal that has not been articulated.”
There are other goals that are more interesting to me. One of the reasons that writing is so engrossing as a life pursuit is that it is impossible to master it. It’s possible to always learn more, go deeper, find new insights about old ideas. One can always be better at writing. Always.
If I apply the vision board idea to my writing life, I’d include quantitative goals, and I’ll include monetary goals because I’m a positive thinking person and better to aim high than low.
But now that I’ve had this revelation, I’m going to come up with some other goals, too. Maybe one is that I’m going to write about things that scare me, or things that are secret. I might only write those things for myself, as an exercise, but maybe I’ll write them into the work of my novels, too.
I am going to choose a particular aspect of writing to study, too. I’m not sure what it will be, but I can see what shape it might take. If I choose to study character development, then I will study some of my favorite writers to see exactly how they build character. If I choose to study wordsmithing, I’ll really study poetry and download some study guides.
I’m also going to read some authors I’ve never read. Go back to the classics and see who I’ve missed. I will also reread classic favorites, to see what the writer I am now might learn. Recently, I’ve been reading A Moveable Feast again because one of my characters was reading it, and I remembered how much I loved the book the first time through, and how surprised I was to love it. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read it now, but I always learn something. I learn something from M.F.K Fisher, too, and from A Distant Mirror, which is a beloved text on the middle ages. (I don’t even write about the middle ages anymore, but I love this book).
Another thing is that I’m going to come up with new ways to fill the well. Over the past few months, I’ve been learning watercolors, and it’s amazing what it’s doing for the writing work. That’s a good thing to continue. Maybe my goal will be to take a class in watercolors or something, or maybe I’ll take up pottery. Not sure.
Because there is one more aspect to this: I’m not going to rush it. Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to mull it over and think about what I’d like to add to my writing life for the new year. What would make me feel stronger? What would add joy? What things have been nibbling at the edges of my creative urges recently? Is there a genre I’d like to study? And then, in a few weeks, maybe I’ll make a word map or a small board with words and pictures to help me remember what I was thinking about.
What might make you a better writer at the end of 2015 than you are now? Let’s have a discussion, maybe bounce ideas around. Maybe you’d like to study with a particular teacher, or go to a conference, or find a critique group. Maybe your goal is to manage the hours of your day better so you have more time to write, or finally finish your rough draft.
Are you struggling with a craft issue? Are there writers you’d like to read and have not done so? Are you filling the well, or just working all the time?
What sorts of things come to you? Quantitative, monetary, craft, reading, study, social? What would make you a better writer at the end of 2015? Let’s talk about it.
Barbara O’Neal is the author of more than a dozen award-winning, bestselling novels, including the runaway bestseller, When We Believed in Mermaids, which has been published in more than 20 countries and spent many months on the Amazon Charts, as well as the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Washington Post bestseller lists. Barbara lives on the beach in rugged Oregon with her husband, a British endurance athlete who vows he’ll never lose his accent and their zoo of cats and dogs. You can find more information on her newsletter and where to find her on social media at barbaraoneal.com.
Hi Barbara. I love your idea of watercolor painting–I enjoy strolling galleries and museums and find the images stimulate story ideas. My off writing time is spent reading new writing craft books; I’m always on the lookout for one that goes deeper into fiction in structure and creativity. For next year, I’ll be looking for writing competitions and book award contests. I would very much like to see WU do a post on book award competitions/writing contests that are worthy.
I want to start keeping some sort of record of helpful things I read. Right now I’m doing that in my writing journal, but a board like this sounds promising. I’d like to find a critique group, but I’ve given up on that. I know it’s hard to believe that, my being in the DC area and all, but the groups I’ve been in are full of hobbyists.
I’d like to find a way to share my writing with people who write well, not people who suddenly say, “Gee, now that I have the time, I’m gonna write a book.”
Nancy, I have been part of groups like that, too, and it’s just not that productive for a writer who works and produces regularly. Maybe see if you can connect with people at a local conference?
The board somehow helps remind me, over and over, through the year, about one thing or another. I’m starting to think I might love seeing, “oh, yes, I wanted to read Fisher again this year.”
I have a tendency to vastly underestimate how long a writing project will take. For example, my current project (started in July) is taking a very large manuscript I finished in ’11 and dividing it into a trilogy. It seemed relatively simple. In outline format, I easily figured where the book divisions fell, and then the plot points for book one. I was going to be done with book one by the end of October. And that fell by the wayside.
Then came UnCon. And, oh dear, how I see so much more that needs to be done. As awesome as it was, it sort of froze me up. I’ve managed to apply some of the lessons in short pieces that address specifics in backstory. And, as of this week, I’m back to making strides in the actual manuscript. It’s all been interesting, and it’s fun again, but I get this huge sense of unease about it when I look up and it’s freakin’ Thanksgiving already! What? How’d that happen. Have I really been in a daze for all of November?!
Central to my goals for ’15 is the comprehension of what I’ve learned, and its incorporation into my work. I still aspire to finishing a draft of the new book one by the new year, and having it out to betas. I can’t help myself for saying I’d like to have the entire trilogy reworked by the mid-point of next year. I’m really not trying to set myself up. I’m really excited about the story and the possibilities. And about what it’ll all mean for my trilogy, which I’d like to get back to next summer.
Also central to my goals for ’15: mastering my self-doubt. I almost said fear, but I’m aware that fear will always exist. I just want to keep it from crippling my striving, even in period bursts, as it has recently.
And yes – mix in more reading, a bit more time in the workshop, less time frittered online or watching TV. Thanks for pushing me to push myself today, Barbara.
Vaugh, I like to ask my students to choose one or two things to focus on at a time. You’re an advanced writer and already know everything you need to know. To take the work one step higher, into more excellence, I think it’s easier to focus on one or two things at a time. All that information flowing in all at once is exhilarating, but it can be overwhelming, too.
So, one or two things that you heard at the uncon that were especially resonant?
Very wise observation, Barbara. I was *allowing* myself to be overwhelmed. And I if I focus on one or two points, the first would be drilling down, in a specific way, on the backstory incidents that inform the story (Lisa Cron). I’m getting a handle on that one. And I feel like I’m finally getting a handle on #2, as well – Don’s micro-tension. I love his idea of taking the ms one page at a time, randomly.
Also, you caused me to realize something else, and I shared it in an fb status along with this essay: “Yes, I want to grow in the coming year. But I also realized that I actually like the story I’m working on. I’ve been grappling so intently with trying to master new techniques, that the feeling has been lost. So ‘yes’ to growth, ‘no’ to caring so much about what others might think of it, and ‘yes’ to being excited about this story and fond of my characters again. And a big-ass ‘YES’ to being grateful for the opportunity to tell their story, and for all I’ll learn about myself and the world in the process.”
Very astute advice, Barbara, thanks. Happy Thanksgiving!
Vaughn, I’m right there with you on adjusting to things taking longer. I like how Barbara emphasizes what I feel is such a critical point: there’s no rush. Your heart is in the right place and you’re committed to birthing a story told full and deep as you know how, and that’s a journey worth as much as the story itself. You can afford to take after the way of the Elves, living in Rivendell and all. :)
Good on you, Barbara. I am a strong advocate of directed self-study in the craft, right along the lines you suggest–re-reading novels that do that thing well, studying them along with good books on that area, and then practice scenes.
Sounds like an exciting and rewarding 2015 for you. Enjoy.
Barbara, I like the way you include learning and professional development activities within your goals. Mine tend to be specific and quantifiable, but what gets lost in the quest for word counts and publication goals is the need to stop and take stock and then work on improving weaknesses as a writer. You seem to have a firm grasp on areas where you can grow and a good strategy for achieving that growth. All the best to you in 2015.
I would like to be more ‘in the moment’ in my scenes. Take the time to see what’s going on around my characters, who else is there, what they’re doing, and how that affects the characters. Take note of the weather, the time of day, the surroundings — anything that would affect a character and make the scene come across as more real.
I don’t know if I have a specific part of my writing that I want to improve in 2015, since I’m going to spend most of next year revising my WIP. So, my #1 goal for 2015 is to do whatever I need to do to improve the story – fix inconsistencies, cut out unnecessary words (because I’m going to soar past my word count goal *eeek*), etc. – so I can hand it over to beta-readers and critique partners later in the year.
Oh, I also want to go to Muse And The Marketplace in Boston this coming May. That’s my other writing-related goal for next year.
Barbara,
I’m about to begin working with a story coach, something I’ve never done before. I’m nervous, but excited. I do set time goals, and like Vaughn, get mildly freaked out at how easily I under-estimate. But as you say, writing is “impossible to master” and the process takes its twists and turns. In 2015, I’d like to become more graceful about the process. Not panicky (self-doubt) or manic. I’m not productive when I glue myself to the chair because I think I need to be here. So often an hour of yoga or a walk on the canal are the things that will loosen the knots. And yes, painting! Such an amazing thing to put your focus on something visual and let your writer mind perk in the background. I wish you joy with your new pursuit, and success with your visions.
Susan, that’s a great one: to be more graceful about the process. I also find an hour of yoga or a walk will do ten times as much good as bashing my head against the computer.
My daughters and I made vision boards on January 1st each year when they were young. They have kept some of them and pointed out photos and statements to me that actually “came true.” What a great idea to incorporate the New Year vision board with writing goals. Love it!
Barbara,
I love your board idea for 2015. I have a bulletin board but it tends to be overcrowded as the days meander into weeks. I think I’m going to set one up anew, and divide it into months and possibly weeks and days with goals of things I want to do. I’m also going to have spaces to pin stuff when I accomplish one of my bulletin goals. Also, a space for my thoughts on the experience and what I’ve learned. But, not a rigid board. One with plenty of space for the unexpected, and why, where and what happened.
Thanks for this. There is so much I need and want to do in the coming months.
Love that plan, Bernadette. A new board, with room for flexibility. I made a blackboard wall in my office a year or so ago, and I love being able to erase things, both when they are accomplished, and when I want to change something.
A blackboard wall sounds like a really cool thing to have!
I love the idea of studying a specific aspect of writing. It seems like such a logical (and doable) idea. I have the book Wonderbook, which has all sorts of wonderful ways of exploring craft, and I think I’ll have to dig back into it, only looking at a specific section this time, instead of trying to read the whole thing. Which I’ve never done, by the way. There’s just so much!
I’m not doing so well with making writing goals. It seems to be going along as it goes along. But, lately, I’ve been writing better and more regularly again, so I think getting back into the habit of writing (at least ten minutes a day) is a better bet for me than an actual word count schedule. Plus, I’ll be heading into revisions on Book 2, and while I’m revising, I really want to write some short stories. I started out writing short stories, and I kind of miss it. So, with revising, writing a little everyday will be more doable when trying to fit it all into regular day life. :)
Thanks for the great post today! You’ve really gotten me thinking!
That’s great, Lara. The time aspect works better for some people, and word/page count for others. Wise of you to know time is how you can get motivated.
And yes, to the things you miss!
What a great prompt, Barbara, thank for this. I think I have to do as you and spend the rest of 2014 thinking about some further goals for 2015. I’m sure I’ll be inspired by some of the comments today too.
Right now, though, I very much have a reading goal. I’ve started making Thursday’s my reading days. I am often very busy and do not read productively, especially days when I am busy with client work (intensive editing exhausts my reading muscles). So I make Thursday a PD day and from sunup til sundown I do nothing but read fiction or craft-related nonfiction. I’m wondering if for 2015 I might aim for a 52 book challenge. I know one area in writng where I seriously lack is that I have not read enough to truly be informed whether my writing is unique or where it fits into the collective whole, or if the way I’m going about writing is the best approach for me. Having myopically stuck to fantasy and occasionally wandered out of my comfort zone, it’s possible I’m writing epic fantasy because really that’s all I’ve ever known and loved the most. Now, I have no intention on giving up on epic fantasy since I do truly love it, but even so, reading broadly and with a method will help give me extra dimension to how I write no matter what the outcome.
One thing I’ve started which I think could be a great project for 2015 is a research list of all genres and subgenres, with an intention of collecting representative authors in each and trying to read a bit of their works. I already have a great list for fantasy, thanks to our WU crew who helped in my Facebook poll, and this last week I’ve started out with Robin Hobb, Terry Pratcjet, Jim Butcher, Anne McCaffrey, Neil Gaimon and Patrick Rothfus. Rather than picking one author and reading all their works, I’m going to try being introduced to many authors and coming back to their works if there is something I feel I have to learn further. I’m going to read more in fantasy, since that’s what I write, but I would like to build my list into other genres and subgenres too. It will be interesting to see where this leads. If it goes well I may try to make 2016 a 104-book-challenge year.
Here’s to 2015 and growth.
I love your Reading Thursday idea, John.
Barbara, I’m so excited to start off the new year (well, Feb) with Story Masters. I tend to stay in my comfort zone and not push myself as hard as I should when I study alone, so I need to take a class like this every couple of years. I’m going to take the next month to clear both my desk and brain …The other thing I want to work on more is balancing the other creative pursuits like piano playing, cooking and photography with my writing. The discipline of sitting down to master a Chopin waltz carries over to writing. I might even take up some knitting given my old winter socks have holes.
Barbara–
Your post is inspiring in an excellent way: it offers a glimpse into how a successful novelist and her friend go about envisioning the future–what a great, enviable idea!
As for writing, I especially like your “other goals.” Like you I plan next year on going back to books I’ve read and loved (I share your appreciation for A Distant Mirror).
But I’m conflicted by a reality: the books and authors I most admire–not among longstanding classics, but more recent ones–are not anything like what I’m trying to write. That may be why I admire them: I couldn’t do it. The smart thing, of course (after research), is to give emphasis to reading “the competition” in my genre. But the lure of authors who do something I admire but can’t aspire to imitate is very seductive.
Barry, a couple of questions: the first is that you might be really underestimating your abilities by saying you can never write like the writers you admire.
But also, are there writers who write the same kind of thing you do that are ahead of you on the path, writers who might illuminate things you haven’t considered?
It’s also perfectly fine to read writers who write nothing like you. I mean, Hemingway and I have nothing at all in common, but I love some of his work.
Barbara–
It’s kind of you to suggest that I may be underestimating what I do, or can do. Truth to tell, one of my “problems” is that what I write–suspense–I write more in terms of mainstream or semi-literary novels. I imagine that’s at least one reason why two agents who have represented my work have struck out with editors. The agents liked what I wrote, but the editors to whom they sent it didn’t find it genre-specific enough. Anyway, that’s my guess.
What successful writers might point the way for me? I complicate things for myself by liking British writers more than Americans. But I couldn’t–and wouldn’t try–doing what the American Martha Grimes has done: develop the identity of a British police detective for a series that’s been unfolding for something like three decades.
My hope for next year is that (with help from good editors) I will at last combine a wish to write well in literary terms with a real-world mastery of plotting and pacing suited to commercial fiction. If I succeed, and if I ever figure out how marketing works, maybe I will at last find readers.
I always love your posts, Barbara, as they make me think and inspire me at the same time.
My goal is to manage my time better. I have gotten really bad at allowing the Internet to be a time suck for me, and it’s keeping me from writing more. This needs to stop and I can think of no better time than the present. I need to cultivate more self-discipline and create some techniques. I’m excited by the concept of freeing up more time to write because I am much happier when I do.
Thank you, Barbara, I love your idea.
Barbara:
What an inspiring use of [antidote to] the holidays. I especially appreciate your highlighting that this isn’t a quick list, but a process that favors simmering.
Reading your post, I realize how much I would benefit from living out a larger landscape. It’s pretty easy to be all about time in front of the computer screen. The potential year ahead is a gift and I would like to use that time mindfully. Thanks for the reminder. Well timed!
Hi Barbara,
I’ve been thinking about this topic recently. How fortuitous that you shared your intentions. The watercoloring sounds fun and relaxing.
For me, exercising again on a regular schedule came first. Our family had a major move cross country, and I let that upset everything. The other need: find an accountability partner to bounce ideas around with and to form a business plan. I feel like I work at craft, but the business side gets neglected.
Funny…my husband called me and suggested we stop by a gym tonight! I have an accountability partner for that.
Happy Thanksgiving, Barbara!
Gina
Thank you for this article, Barbara. Such a positive way to start a new year.
Me? I will start the new year with a page full of scribbled notes. Heading these notes is my desire to finish my current WIP. : )
What an encouraging article. I get depressed by the idea of New Year’s Resolutions, but this thoughtful examination of how you want to grow in the next year, is much more intriguing.
Awesome post, Barbara. i immediately wrote to my writing buddy asking her to do a reflection & vision board with me.
Next year I would LOVE to write four pages a day, no matter what.
Something in my process doesn’t allow this. There are so many days when i need to think things through, make notes, catch up with where i left off…..before i can figure out what to write. These all sound like excuses – even to me! But there’s something in my process thats…..messy. I always show up to work, but i don’t always produce new pages. Especially when revising.
Maybe an intermediary goal would be to allow myself to think through my work for the day before sitting down to write. i tend to think of ‘work’ as sitting at the computer. But what’s the point of that if my mind isn’t clear about the work to be done? Maybe i could allow myself to walk outside thinking deeply about the scene i need to write. Accessing that deeper place inside where the imagination lives. Not busy work, but deep work.
I say ‘allow’ because walking seems like avoiding – when i know it isn’t.
And this will need some creativity as its 15 degrees outside today in Minneapolis :-)
When i got to the bottom of your inspiring post, i found your name! I’ve read and loved many of your books. You have always been a great inspiration to me. I write women’s fiction – and you have forged the path for the rest of us!
Thank you for your shining example, Barbara.