Writing Plays Tuned Me Into My Creative Inner Being – Lessons Learned Along the Way

I didn’t expect to write a book in my life-time. It clearly wasn’t on my bucket list. As a kid, I don’t remember more than 2-3 books in our house. A dictionary, the Bible, and the phone book—slim, as I grew up in a small town of only 1,000 people.

But, I was always interested in books; I was a regular at the town library, and chose the usual Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew books that were popular at the time. My bestie lived in a house with book-shelves filled with books, and I liked to spend time there. If you’d asked my mother, she’d tell you I was too interested in books. I’m not sure why she shooed me outside when she saw me curled up with a book “Go get some fresh air.” Was it just to get me out of her hair? Or was it that, from an early age, she picked up how different I was from her.  Good at school work, but not at all interested in going to school dances, or boys. Too serious by far.

Let’s just say I didn’t get books for Christmas or my birthday but learned, over time, to read quietly, by myself, in my bedroom.  Maybe because it was a hidden pleasure, it became a refuge for me.

When I left my small town for the big State University, I never looked back. Moving from a town of 1,000 to a campus of 50,000 students was dizzying, but I found my niche; thrived academically, and felt acceptance when I found others who were bright and nerdy.

Career, marriage, career, babies, career, divorce, empty nest—all happened in nano-seconds, looking back. A life rich in lovely experiences, and some not so much. A Book Club started along the way that sustains me to this day.

Circumstance and interest came together for me a few years ago when I had time to consider taking a class at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.  I started as a voyeur — interested in how authors did what they did. How did they create a story, characters, plot that kept you interested and coming back for more?

Eventually, coaxed by teachers, I put pen to paper and played. Never with any serious intention. It wasn’t why I was there.

To my surprise, the play tuned me into my creative inner being. I found that I enjoyed writing and followed the instructions of my teachers as they further challenged me. Listening to the critique of other students, sharing my observations of their writing taught me some of the fundamentals. Continual revision, renewal, new classes, new teachers, new ideas all moved me forward.

My debut novel “A Better Next” is the best version of countless drafts over years of effort.  Now, I’m working on the second revision of my second novel.

This is what I’ve learned along the way:

1—Writing every day is a lofty goal—that I keep sporadically.

My muse is somewhat coy. Some days I find myself lost in a creative zone for hours, other days, I just review a draft scene or write something unrelated. The zone is such a peak experience, I try not to force it.

2—Taking long breaks on occasion ups your craft.

My life doesn’t always cooperate with my writing schedule. Right now I’m coming off of an unexpected three month hiatus from any serious writing, and have decided not to beat myself up about it, but to revel in the excitement I feel for getting back to it. I know from experience that as I do, I will second guess my decisions on almost every front. But, the inner struggle will produce a better work.

3—Continual learning is key.

There are a variety of ways to be constant at honing your craft:

*classroom learning with teachers of note

*on-line classes with other writers reviewing your work

*writing groups that meet regularly

*hiring a coach to conduct a read-through and evaluation

*the best learning of all—READ, READ, READ.

I’ve used all of the above at various stages of my development. I’ve not found the perfect writing group, but have some friendly readers that will read for me and trade manuscripts on occasion—maybe I’d call it a virtual writing group?

4—Publishing is totally different than Writing.

It’s lovely to be in the creative zone. It becomes cozy and insular and you want to stay there….But, getting your writing out in the world is the point, right? Let me just say that if the writing process was new and different for me, and I could let my creative juices go wild, the next phase—getting my work out in the world, has required my old business skills of analysis, marketing prowess, resilience and never-ending persistence.

5—Manage your expectations.

The publishing industry is undergoing massive change. The consolidation of publishers makes it very difficult to break in as a debut author, and a book is now viewed as commodity rather than art. Don’t underestimate the merchandising required. Practice patience and surround yourself with the support you need!

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Contributed by Maren Cooper, author of forthcoming novel A Better Next (5/28/19) a healthcare consultant and wife, learns her doctor husband’s intention to take a prestigious new job on the other side of the country―and relocate with-out her… “Both sprightly and deeply felt, A Better Next captures the losses, trade-offs, and rewards of the contemporary career woman/wife/mother. Many are the women who will recognize themselves in Jess’ story.”  -Faith Sullivan, award-winning author of Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse

Follow her on Twitter @marenwrites

Find out more about Maren on her website https://marencooper.com

A BETTER NEXT

Jess Lawson, a forty-five-year-old healthcare consultant, wife, and mother of two, has spent most of her adulthood fostering the illusion of having a perfect life. Her impending empty-nest syndrome as her youngest child prepares to start college is troubling enough, but when her doctor husband, Arthur, announces his intention to take a prestigious new job on the other side of the country―and relocate with-out Jess―her world quickly crumbles.

Amid their acrimonious divorce, revelations about Arthur’s infidelity come to light; and at work, instead of the revitalized ca-reer Jess is hoping for, she uncovers surprising financial corruption that threatens a scandal for her client―and the well-being of the many unsuspecting patients and physicians they serve. Ultimately, this superwoman is forced to acknowledge that her put-together veneer can’t hold up under the weight of these new burdens. She also, however, refuses to wallow in victimhood. So what now?

 

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Tags: featured, women writers

Category: How To and Tips