The Opportunity of Newness — Paying Attention to the World Around Us

Hello! After a few weeks off from blogging, I am back! And officially living in a new state!

Things are going well, and while there is certainly too much to talk about in terms of moving and navigating a new city and starting a new for just one blog post, things have been going well overall. And I've started writing (or actually revising) consistently just like before I moved. While I will admit that writing has not been my number one priority over the past few weeks as I prepared to move and have thus been trying to settle in. But moving provides a unique experience that can definitely grow and expand your writing if you let it.

Over the past few weeks I have seen new sights and places that I did not know before. I have started a new job and learned new processes. I have met new people and moved into a new apartment. I completely changed my life and now have to start building anew. But I've also done the little things, like figuring out where the nearest grocery store is, how to get from my house to a friend's, and what to do when you the train you need isn't running and unsure of where I am. Being in a new place, even the small things that seemed so second nature to me back in Boston now have a whole new challenge built in. Simply put: Things are foreign to me. Figuring things out is not part of daily life.

And with the challenge of figuring things out, there are often a lot of experiences and thoughts and emotions that arise. Sometimes, once we settle into our daily routines and feel comfortable in our surroundings, a lot of these feelings tend to dissipate. Things like stress and worry and vulnerability and amazement aren't always as significant in the day to day. You know how to solve a problem. You know where you are going and how to get there. But being the pre-comfortable, shall we say uncertain, state affords a lot of opportunities as a writer.

As writers, we often create situations that require imagination. We build worlds and make up characters and create conflicts and solve problems. And while imagination and creativity are extremely important, drawing from our own reserve of life experience is equally as important. And the more life experiences we have, the more we can draw from ourselves.

This is in no way to say that moving is necessary for everyone or that we can't write about things we've never experienced ourselves. But I do think that as writers, we do want to keep our eyes and ears open. We want to absorb as much as we can from the world around us to inform and better our writing. And when dropped into new situations, whether hours away or in our very own neighborhood, we want to pay attention. To seize the opportunity and take in the emotions and sights and people and newness, and later transform it into a detail or plot twist or character trait that will enhance our writing.

Perhaps it's not actually seeing something and then rushing home to start a new idea, or incorporate it into your story, but rather it might just be tucking it away in your mind for later, or recognizing an emotion or conflict or feeling hidden within the scene you just witnessed. But being aware of newness, and the many ideas and opportunities it can provide, is important for all of us, everyday. Moving has reminded me of this, and I hope that New York brings me many ideas and makes me a better writer.

The Joy of a New Idea!

So as I've been plugging alone in my revision, I will admit, it hasn't been the most exciting venture. But hey, that's okay. Because just like life, writing has its up and downs and plenty of plateaus, and as long as your moving forward, you're doing good work. And just like life, at times writing surprises you with unexpected joys — namely, the joy of a new idea.

You see, at work on Friday, a bunch of my coworkers and I started talking about a balloon that has been in my cube for about a month now, given to me as part of a graduation celebration from all of my awesome coworkers. And because it bobs and floats just above my cubicle walls, said balloon greets everyone daily, twirling about as the day idles on. This balloon thus attracts attention, and speculation as to just how long it will remain floating. This topic came up in a morning chat with my friends, which was actually the product of conversation from the previous day with my boss, and so a competition sprang to life. How long will this balloon last and on what date will it fall?

Wonderful fun, I must tell you. Not only because guessing at little things like this is innately interesting, but also because of the enthusiasm it garnered and the joy it brought to our growing group of participants. Of course, this spurred some great fun during the day and naturally led to funny conversations, during which someone suggested I write a story about this. I smiled because I myself was loving the competition, and then she said it: the perfect, beautiful title. The title that I could not help to write down. The title that I knew had to be the nameplate of a story. The title I want to write a book about. And a new idea took shape.

Now, unfortunately I cannot share this title as the internet is a tricky thing and we all need to protect our  work. But brainstorming with my other good friend later that afternoon, as I melded this beautiful title with a previous book scenario I have been kicking around, the idea morphed and changed and grew into something completely different. I scribbled and drew arrows and wrote all over several sticky notes. But the title remained. And a new idea stood strong.

Honestly, this new idea has nothing to do with my current project and really doesn't help me along in my revision in the slightest. It's not something that today I can do much with or something that will be easy to execute. It also must wait for my revision to be finished. But, that doesn't matter — because it was exciting. It gave me something to look forward to. It got my mind racing and ideas flowing. It made me remember how fun idea creation is; how fun writing is.

We all need the joy of a new idea now and again. Whether it comes in the middle of a current project or right when you need to start something new, that joy is necessary because it reminds us of the purest and more quintessential point of our writing — that we love stories and we want to make good ones.

So no matter what you're working on or how long you still have to go before starting something new, keep looking for that new idea. And cherish the joy when you find it. Because we need it — to remember why we love to do what we do.

The Week I Didn't Write — Or Thought I Wasn't Going To

With only a conclusion, a final proofread, and one final class to attend, I am just hours short of completing my degree. Wow. How the time flies.

This week has been a relatively easy week for me. With only one paper left to worry about, it was a low pressure week as I allowed myself ample time to outline, write here and there, and just feel the unique sense of "yes, I have to do this paper, but no, I don't actually have to freak out about it because I have time to spare and everything is totally under control."

So I also decided that I wasn't going to worry about novel either. I would take a week off from writing. I need to start my revision soon, but I also needed to give my mind some time to rest, I figured. Time would allow me perspective on my work and also the mental recouping I absolutely am in need of. But as the week went on, a funny thing began to happen. Ideas started popping up everywhere, and once they did, it was like my brain just wouldn't stop.

I read a newspaper article — therein waited a great new topic for a book. I read a blog post — it sparked the idea for a great new setting perfect for an ensemble cast of characters. I thought about my novel — and an idea here, and a line of dialogue there.  I looked back at some of my other story ideas as I contemplate what will be next project later in the summer/fall, and with each section of my notebook I read, ideas just started flowing until I had no idea which I'll choose because they all seem so appealing right now!

I was amazed. I still am, hence why I'm blogging about it. Why, on the week that I decided to really take a break, did my mind suddenly kick into wonderful, creative overdrive? Why was I constantly scrambling to get down that idea before I left for a meeting, in the midst of conversation, and right before I was about to fall asleep? Don't get me wrong. It's a welcomed experience, and certainly good for my current and future projects! But it got me thinking about why this happened. And these are the things I came up with:

First, I definitely think this is an outgrowth of the discipline of writing. For a whole year now, I've been very dedicated to two different projects. Not to say I didn't practice the discipline of writing before, but this year was different. The year might have even been one spent on overdrive in terms of my writing, but that's okay, because I truly learned just how far discipline and ambition can take me. So now, I'm used to writing rigorously. I am used to holding myself to a demanding schedule. And while I think I can afford to tone it down at times, discipline creates better writing. And it keeps my brain thinking and exploring and creating. Certainly a plus!

I also think that with the end of school comes the advent of new things. New projects, new freedom, more time to write what I want and not work on papers that might be stimulating but are not actually helping me with my novel. I've known school was coming to a close for a long time now, and that freedom was just around the corner. But now I can feel it. And I'm excited. So I guess all these ideas are bubbling to the surface because I can now actually pursue them. I can write one project while planning the next. Maybe I'll even try writing two at once (but only if I am really having an overflow of ideas happening — or on second thought, maybe not!). Regardless, I think my subconscious is responding to the imminent freedom. And again, I'll take it. It's always been to have too many ideas than too few.

Finally, as I begin to revise my most recent novel, which I love a lot, I am also looking forward to writing new things. Throughout this year in particular, I have truly discovered the benefits, and the enjoyment within revising. But for me, I think the thrill of the new idea and the writing of that project that has long awaited me still outweighs the excitement of revising. Hence my brain constantly looking forward to the next first draft somewhere down the line.

So whatever the reasons, I'll certainly take it. It feels good to know that as I finish school, I am still ready to work. I am ready to pursue my writing with just as much gusto as I had during the school year, when deadlines and requirements spurred me forward. Only now, my love of story telling can be sole my motivating factor, and I can work in my own way, on whatever I want, whenever I want! It's quite liberating, I must say. But I am certainly indebted to the schooling that has helped me to get here. And I'm really looking forward to the future :)

Go Explore! Ideas Come from Everywhere

This past week I went on vacation, and had the chance to take a small break from my writing and go see some sights I had never seen before. Strolling the streets of San Francisco, seeing the flashy lights of Vegas, taking a tour through wine country, walking through the redwoods, and just driving new city streets provided great memories. But my trip also provided a wonderful chance to encounter many new sights, people, and cultures that all serve as the basis for great new ideas.

I think there is something to be said about the way we see things when we are encountering them for the first time. Fresh eyes, a bit of wonder, and keen observation allow for a viewing experience we don't often get from the things we see every day. How easy it is for something to be overlooked when it  becomes repetitive or familiar. But when vacationing, or visiting a new museum or landscape, we have a new perspective that interests the mind and sparks a thread of creativity is a new way.

One of most common things you hear in writing is to write what you know. Of course, there is ample room for imagination and fantasy, but I do think there is lots of value to this statement. When you know something, when you can deeply understand a place or a concept or a feeling, it comes across in your writing. Paired with this idea of exploration and new experiences, I think great things can happen in your writing. Not only are we increasing what we know by seeing and experiencing anew, but combining the exciting, inspired creativity of a new place with the more concrete, though perhaps intangible reality of what we know in our hearts and minds can provide the basis for a truly fabulous story. We need the newness as well as the old. We need to blend the architecture and dialect and unique aspects of a new city with the familiar characteristics and emotions and regions we know to make a story that is both alive and moving but also fully believable and grounded.

My trip reminded me of the value of simple observation. It reminded me that I need to get out and experience the greater life beyond my small niche. The world is happening all around us. There are millions of conversations and sights and ideas to be taken in. And the details you pick up from all different sections of the world will combine beautifully with the unique, important truths you already know.

So explore. Go for a long walk. Venture into a new neighborhood. Take the bus in a different direction and see what's out there. Seeing new sights doesn't have to mean traveling across time zones and state lines. It can simply mean opening up your eyes to the little, unfamiliar things that exist all around us. It will improve your stories, I know it will! And it might just give you a great new idea or two.

Be Open to New Ideas — Especially When Inspiration Strikes

This week while riding the T on my morning commute, an idea for a new story came to me. Out of the blue, without much thought — true, simple inspiration just hit me! It was one of those moments when I most understand Emeril's notorious "Bam!" Quite pleased, I hurried to work to write it all down, thinking wouldn't it be wonderful if all ideas could come this easily, because sometimes, when you most want something to work, that's when it becomes the hardest.

This fortuitous and spontaneous story inspiration got me thinking. Although I am in the early-to-middle stages of working on a new manuscript (first draft of course), an entirely new idea that has nothing to do with my current work seemed to mysteriously arise from somewhere in my brain. As people, and maybe perhaps even more so as writers, our minds are always going everywhere and thinking of a thousand things at once.  We are observing, we are thinking, we are reading, we are conversing — the list goes on and on. But in the midst of all this, we need to remember to be attuned to this smaller moments of inspiration. We need to keep an open mind to new ideas and all the places they might come from. Especially because if you don't write them down now, often, you just can't remember them later.

Not only does exploring new ideas for future stories help us in the future, but I also think it helps us in now. Sometimes I feel like my brain needs a rest from my current project. That thinking about it so much can sometimes lead to frustration rather than triumphant creativity. But giving ourselves a break to explore a new world or scenario — one that is even totally absurd and totally fun — can benefit our current projects simply by opening up our minds. Many writers have different processes, and I know some write at the same time every day while others go with more of a "when the mood strikes them" approach. But regardless of your style, it remains important to be ready to seize the moment of inspiration and explore new ideas, even if it's only to be put away for safe keeping.

For me, I keep a list of future projects stuck to the cork board over my bed, and a notebook full of partially developed but promising ideas in a notebook. Sometimes I feel like I have so many ideas that I simply just don't have the time. But finding a balance between what you're working on now and what you hope to work on in the future is important. Because keeping the creative juices flowing is key, and making sure you have something to work on when you finish your current project helps you to keep going, and avoid feeling stuck or without inspiration.

We writers are writing all the time. We are writing the potential situations that might arise in our day; we are writing messages and emails and tweets; we are writing and rewriting dialogue that exists in the real world as well as our fictional worlds. So we want to make sure to be writing our future stories as well. Letting them ruminate in the back of your mind; thinking about one when you are about to fall asleep; and writing down that bit of dialogue or plot detail when it comes.

Knowing exactly what you'll work on in the future isn't a science, and it might change as soon as you finish your current project. But planning ahead can never hurt. And it might just lead you to better stories, and exciting adventures, even now!

Choosing Your Next Project — Writing for Others, and for Yourself

Yesterday, I had coffee with my good friend and fellow writer Heather Demetrios to catch up on life and talk about all things writerly. And while all of our conversation was truly fun and enriching, one thing I kept thinking about after I left is the balance between current projects and future projects. Or perhaps more precisely, choosing what project you want to pursue next, and how to know that that's the one you should go with.

For me, this subject has been on my mind because while I still have a long way to go in the revision of my current novel, the deadline for my spring mentorship proposal is fast approaching. The way that my MFA program at Simmons works, this year, my second and final year of the degree, consists of two intensive mentorships in which you work on two different manuscripts during the two respective semesters. Thus, the need to be aware of what I am going to do next, and to select what I feel is the "best" project from my list of potential ideas, has definitely been a real pressure that I've felt over the past few months.

Similarly for Heather, who is completing her MFA at VCFA, she, too, must choose a project to work on next. And, as a 2014 debut author with her YA novel Streaming, feels the even added pressure of wanting to produce a great second novel that will be a strong follow up to her first. Of course, I am confident that she will absolutely succeed in this, but I completely understand the stress that comes with choosing your next project. The endeavor of writing a novel mandates a large amount of time and commitment. And while some people can balance writing several things at once, the reality of doing that with working in a full-time (or even part-time), and doing that well, becomes a real challenge. Never mind the fact that when you have a list of projects you want to pursue, you want to take into account the market and what you think will most likely sell, especially as a yet unpublished or debut author.

So as we talked about all our worries yesterday, and as I left to return home to my work, I realized that this pressure, this uncertainty, is something we will probably always have to deal with. No one knows for sure that one book will sell over the next. Or that this project should take precedent over that one. And it is this decision making process that will probably always keep our minds spinning as we consider our upcoming works. But, this is not something that necessarily has to hold us back, or paralyze us from producing good work. If handled the right way, it is something that can only make us better.

See, I think Heather and I both come from the camp of "write more, and write more, now!" For better or for worse, we will probably always be the overachieving sort who go for the things we want and never want to quit anything, no matter how hard something might become, and then move onto the next one. And productivity wise, this can be a great quality, but emotionally, sometimes it is simply exhausting. So ultimately, like most things, choosing what to work on next must come down to a balance. On one hand, it is good to write with an eye toward the market — considering what is out there and what isn't, what holes you can fill, and what audience you're after. But at the same time, you need to go with what you feel most passionate about, or the story you know in your heart you need to write, regardless of the trends of what you think is likely to get bought.

The writing we do has to come from us. And even though I know I so desperately want my writing to be read and to affect other people, my writing will always need to be not just from me, but for me, too. We need to write for ourselves; for the love we have of literature and for the stories that we are just dying to tell. We need to write knowing that one manuscript might not go anywhere, but that we'll still keep on writing anyway. Maybe your first, or second, or third or fourth book doesn't get a lot of attention, or maybe doesn't even get bought. For all of us, that is a slight scary reality. So you want to make sure that especially now, as a newer or even more established author, each project you work on is a project you're really invested in, not just one you think will get you ahead.

The hard truth is that there are no guarantees. Being a writer is not a path for someone who is looking for security and certainty. As as someone who likes to plan out everything, I can say, it can be totally hard. So choosing the book you really want to write is something that will help sustain you on the long journey of writing.

We ultimately do this because we love this, right? And loving your book will help you want to keep going — in this project and in the next.  And having some good writer-friends by your side, to work through your worries and your ideas, definitely won't hurt, either!