Fill in the blank: Learning to write is like...
Learning to write is a bit like learning to drive, I think. There’s a lot of things you have to do at once, while driving. When I was learning to drive, it took me a while to figure out the mirrors. I wouldn’t remember that I was supposed to be checking my mirrors. And of course, when I would remember, I’d forget it’s supposed to be quick glance, and start paying more attention to what was behind me instead of the road.
There’s just so many things that you have to concentrate at the same time. My first week driving, I was on my way home from school, and I got confused with everything I was supposed to be doing. My brother was fighting in the back seat with a fourth-grader I was driving home, the speed limit changed, there was a curve in the road, and my cell phone rang.
If this were today – no prob. I would have been able to yell at the kids to shut up, answer my phone with one hand, navigate the turn with my knee, and hit the brakes for the speed reduction, all without taking my eyes off the road.
But my first week driving? There was no way I could have accomplished all that. One of those things simply had to fall through the cracks. Wanna guess which one it is? Oh yeah, it would be the whole “keep your hands on the wheel to go around the curve” part. I spun around about four times and landed quite comfortably in a ditch.
There’s an analogy here. When learning to write, we’re flooded with new information. There are a ton of things to think of at once, and chances are, we’re never going to remember them all, and still stay on the road. If we try to take care of everything before we’re ready….hello ditch, and the uncomfortable phone call to the parents explaining the tow truck.
But just like with driving, all these things will eventually become second nature. I don’t go into the ditch now, every time my phone rings. But if you think about it, there is absolutely no way for all the rules and tasks of driving to become second nature without actually driving. For hours and hours and hours. Oh you can take Driver’s Ed, you can read the car’s manual, but nothing replaces driving. In Maryland now, to get your license, you have to log so many hours of driving in every type of weather – wet roads, snow storms, night time, etc. Every time you change conditions, you have to pay more attention to the road than usual (i.e., changing genres, character types, etc).
So, what have you gotten better at? What are those things that used to send you straight into the ditch that now come easier? And since every time you get good at one skill, you have to learn and integrate a new one, what are the newer things popping up that trip you up now, that you never concentrated on before?
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58 comments:
God, I was horrible at driving. Just remembering my near misses during the practice stage just makes me shudder. I remember I was practicing in my friend Donnell's car, and she said, "Go this way. No, I mean go this way." And I nearly took out a light pole trying to accommodate her request. The guy driving behind us just shook his head and I know what he was thinking: "Women drivers." Me, I burst into hysterical tears and laughter, then backed up and drove to wherever the hell we'd been going.
I hated learning to drive. I like it now, finally, but it was a lot of solo driving before I got comfortable with it and liked it alot. *pauses* I'm not sure that sounds right, but whatever.
I remember another time my dad was trying to teach me how to drive a stick shift. 1970 Nova. The reverse was located in a different location than normal modern stick shifts. I shifted from 1st to reverse (when my intent was 1st to 2nd) and threw the car into the ditch. I mean, we did like a 180 and flew into the ditch before I could figure out what the hell had just happened.
My dad didn't even bat an eyelash. Of course, dad was a veteran of WWII. I suppose it took a lot to rattle his chain--even teaching his teenage daughter to drive. Never did get the hang of stick shift driving, though he has taken me out in the truck a couple times as well. I figure it's not worth burning out the clutch just so I can do it. I'm fine with an automatic.
I've gotten better with cooking. It used to be that I could make spaghetti--and that was about all. Maybe chili. But I like creating more complex dishes now; and I like the time management of it. Esp if it's to be a dish that can be done in 30 minutes (which is hard to pull off if you haven't done it before, or even if you have done it before). Prepping food and cooking--it becomes easier--but there is always something new to learn, something new to experiment with.
I see Hellie was up late last night.
I'm trying not to feel old as there were no cell phones when I started driving. *sigh* Nothing like feeling ancient on a Monday morning.
When I learned to drive I had the dangerous habit of veering the car toward whatever direction I looked. If I looked to the right, the car wondered to the right. In other words, even in driving I could get off on a tangeant.
I had one of those trying to drive a stick experiences. My dad took me to some back road (very wise) and though I could shift with no problem, I couldn't get from stopped to moving without stalling. At one point, I just turned the truck off. I was sitting perpendicular across the road. LOL! My dad drove home and informed my mother she would be teaching me how to drive. And she did. I still have no desire to drive a stick. Who wants to work that hard?! Driving is my relaxing time.
Great blog Hal! :)
I agree with Hellie - I've become a much better cooking. I think cooking's all about timing. Now that I've sorta got the hang of that, I'm trying more complicated recipes.
As for writing, I think something new I'm working on is tone and how it relates to plot and theme. Different character tones and characterization. That kinda stuff. But you're right. Trying to keep track of everything at once can be a little daunting, at least until they become second nature.
I forgot to tie my answer into writing. LOL! Sorry, I'm not awake yet.
I feel like I've been taking Writer's Ed for two years now and I'm just about to get my license. That's right, FINALLY I'm about to venture out on the romance writing highways with total freedom. Am I ready? I think so. (How's that for confidence? LOL!)
I am looking forward to getting in a groove and with any luck, getting better with every writing session. I spent my weekend sitting at my computer writing that paper and actually found myself glancing up to my inspiration board quite often. The quotes kind of worked. But what really worked was seeing my business card tacked up there and remembering I want to do this for real. Maybe that card can serve as a license?
I've loved cars since I was very small. I couldn't wait to get my driver's license. Since I lived in the country, you get to drive the truck when you go buck hay bales, and drive on the back roads that are gravel. I love to be in control. Driving allows me to do that.
How to relate that to writing- I write first person to remain in control. In third person, I feel like I lose my grip on the story. I lose my ability to tie in real raw emotion and seeing a scene the way I want someone to see it.
Basketball is something that I could see drastic improvements in as I got older and more skilled. At first, I was too awkward to dribble the ball. My feet were WAY too big for my body and I used to kick the ball like a soccer ball. And that is SO embarrassing. I used to practice all the time. I would play whenever I got a free second. I would practice shots after games. Dribbling up the gravel road and back. I practiced, and practiced and practiced. I think my work ethic is just seriously lacking with writing. I haven't really "practiced".
I'm not sure what I've gotten better with about writing. (I don't feel I've improved.)
I think I've gotten better about not using "that" everywhere; I'm still guilty of "ly" words, but at least I'm aware of them on the page, glaring at me like rodents infesting a farmhouse. I try to be more active voiced than passive voice. And I do try to start at the right spot. Eventually.
I think I have gotten better at staying in one POV for the length of a scene and not head-hopping. It used to not bother me in books or in my own writing, but now, I do not care for head-hopping. Mostly I think, "Why do I care what he's thinking right now? I don't. Why didn't they save this for introspection later?"
Yes but at least you're not like me Hellie- the cut and delete queen.
Oh, if we're going to get detailed like that, then I could find something. LOL! I don't head hop. Not sure how I mastered that. And I don't do the "that" thing either. My two roughest areas are active verbs and deep POV. I speak passively and I'm shallow, what can I say?
Hi Pirates!
Ok - so the thing I've gotten better with is Golf. I married into a golf family and have spent the last 10 years trying not to embarass myself at every family gathering. Now, I love it and can hold my own!
For writing...WELL I wrote 800 words this weekend using one of the quotes you gave me Friday. I actually did it!
My plan is to write romantic mysteries, but somehow my writing challenge turned out to be a paranormal. No idea where that came from!
I had no real idea of what I was going to write about. I just started a sentence and it took off from there. Now, I look back and can already see where I need some major edits and think I've already learned where I might have to watch myself in the future.
Passive voice is going to be an issue. I wrote the whole scene as a flashback when I should have started the scene with the action itself as it unfolded.
BUT, I did it. I officially sat down and wrote something completely creative and of my own. It felt great. Thanks for the push!
Now, I just need to do the same for the book I've plotted out!
*clapping and whooping* Huzzah, Sabrina, Huzzah!! Congratulations! It all gets addictive from here on out. *LOL* Once you get comfortable with writing, you'll probably use less flashbacks and passive voice--I mean, we all did that at some time or another.
If you can golf, you can write. OMG! The only thing I can think of regarding that sport is once you see how horrible you made the shot, you can start being the stick against the ground and cursing so a sailor would blush. (I love cursing and beating things with sticks.)
Sabrina!! That's so fabulous! Congrats on your 800 words!!
Sorry I'm late this morning. I'm on my great mid-
wow, and I'm not making any sense yet :) I'm traveling and it's throwing off all my timing.
Hellie, I love that your dad didn't even blink when you went into the ditch. That would totally freak me out *g*
I've gotten better with cooking too. The timing is so important. I always try those 30 minute meals you see on TV, and they always take over an hour. grr.
You know Ter, I STILL do the same thing, with turning my head and veering. Rob is always yelling at me to look forward *g*
I can drive a stick well enough to get myself to an emergency room, but you're going to need a new transmission when I get there. lol.
*stands and applauds* WTG, Sabrina! I told you you could do it. There's something about turning out something small but finished that just feels good. And it's all original! All yours! Whoohoo!
Now, write the book. LOL! Easy-peasy. (I'm still on the passive train, no worries.)
Forgot to mention what sent me into a ditch. It was black ice. Don't you hate that stuff? Technically, it sent me into the end of a guardrail. But that was the luckiest guardrail ever because if I'd missed it by a foot, I wouldn't be here today. VERY steep cliff on the other side.
I remember my dad trying to teach me how to drive a stick shift. *Grind* Need I say more. Although I have an automatic, I still love driving a stick. My dad bought me a standard shift for my first car. I learned how to drive it over a weekend and then drove it back to Cincinnati where I was attending nursing school. Cincinnati is built on a hill, it wasn't pretty. I would stop at a red light and pray I wouldn't roll into the car behind me. Parking was an absolute nightmare. UC's parking is all on the street,when I would parallel park I would give it gas and inevitably roll into the car behind me and then stomp on the gas and hit the car in front of me. I can laugh about it now, but talk about learning under the gun! It was like watching a bad cartoon.
For me I'm more intune with my writing voice. I have a bettter understanding of grammar, and how to pace scenes. I still have so much to learn and most days I feel like a total noodle when it comes to writing jargon, but the important thing is write, write, write.
Yeah Sabrina! And Yeah Terrio for finsihing school. What an accomplishment, you should be proud:)
Marn - yep, I'm just now to that point too where I can try more complex meals, because I've gotten better at the timing and the simpler things.
I never remember to think about tone, but you're right, that makes a big difference between characters. that's another of those things that so hard to think about as you go. Surely most of this will become second nature eventually, right?
Ter - I should make a quote board. I think that would help me. I'm excited for you getting all sorts of time to write and get back into the groove of it. The writing highway - I love that. Another excellent analogy - sometimes you're stuck in rush hour where you're stopping and starting and stalling out, and other times you're flying down the highway at 70 mph with the wind in your hair, sunglasses on, and the radio pumping away.
Sin - I was the same way. I drove on those back roads for years before I actually had a license. The hubs grew up in DC, and had never driven on a gravel road until he visited my parents. Apparently, gravel can be freaky if you're not used to it. *g*
It's interesting that we forget how much practice writing takes, like everything else. I think so often, because we do know the rules of writing, we expect ourselves to be able to spit it out perfectly, and forget that it takes years of practice to get to that point. Which really isn't all that encouraging, now that I think about it *g*. Sorry! lol!
Sabrina - how awesome! Isn't that the best feeling though, when you can sit back at the end of the day and look at something that came entirely out of your own imagination, and think, "Wow, I wrote that." Even if it's not perfect, it's still all yours, you know? Awesome job!
Lis - ohh parallel parking. I can't accomplish it in an automatic, I can't fathom trying in a stick! And on hill, no less.
You shouldn't feel like a noddle (though I'm going to have to start using that word. I love it!). I'm still getting critiques from people at school with comments or acronyms that I have no idea about. Like "FBP" - that was a comment on one of my sentences. ?? I finally figured out it meant "floating body parts." I'd apparently written something like, "He held her eyes across the room," which, while technically wrong because you can't hold someone's eyeballs (well, you could, but you'd have to gouge them out...wow, what a tangent! Ter, you should be proud *g*), I still like writing sentences like that.
Whoohoo! Sabrina! That's the spirit kiddo. Let's see if we can get Terrio ta present a writin' challenge like that every Friday... I did the same thing and ended up with a 600 word ditty. Just felt good ta type somethin' out wit'out the worry about where this fit into me plot...etc. Just go with the flow, matey!
Reg. taday's blog...Hmmm. I learned a stick eons ago. When there were no cell phones and me radio was only AM. Three on the tree, children. My 1964 Dodge Dart station wagon. Loved that car. Only rolled back into someone at a hill once. I am still the clutch queen...
I've been re-learnin' how ta ride a bike lately, and it's funny...I can remember when it was all second nature... It be like learnin' ta read, I don't remember now knowin' how ta read...
With the writin', I look at what I wrote earliest and know I've come a long way. But it be very hard to be specific about where it happened. Happens. POV, certainly. Less on the 'ly words, more active than passive. Grammar!? OMG, much better on the grammar!
ARRR. What a weekend I had! From Pirate Festival ta NASCAR... Be hittin' the road home in a few hours. Pick up Bonnie doggie and collapse... I ain't as young as I once was...
Hal, a true pirate not be stymied by the thought a' holding eyeballs across a room... It be a grand incentive when bargainin' ta be holdin' a pair a' eyeballs.
And personally, I live writin' sentences like that, too. I can be a word nazi, but please! Sometimes an action word ain't an action word, but a description of a feelin'. IMHO.
Holding Eyeballs! New drink! With some a' those novelty eyeball ice cubes...
I once had a patient who coughed and their eyeball fell out into their hand- attached and all. It was disgusting.
That must a' been one 'ell of a cough!
Now, if'n ya wrote that up...it would be accurate! No FBP!!!
Sin, isn't the medical field stimulating?
I had a patient that had a fake eyeball and I had to take it out and clean it every day. Niiice.
Hal, I see nothing wrong with floating body parts. I've literally removed eyeballs in surgery before, so you're good:)
Chance, I want a Holding Eyeball. *Bellying up to the bar*
Ya gots it Lisa! I like the shape a' the glass I got fer this one... nearly round as a brandy sniffer! In honor a' the eyeballs!
Now, 'member, no drivin' after three eyeballs...
Gah, I nearly had a heart attack and the nurses were laughing their asses off around the corner.
Ya figure nurses need things ta laugh about? Did ya nail the comedians ta the wall wit' yer stars?
OMgosh, I feel so very old. They didn't have cell phones when I was learning to drive. CD players were bad enough.
What haven't I stumbled over? Adverbs, showing vs. telling. Using omni then slipping into third. Chopping heads, I mean head hopping.
Great blog post, Haleigh. DD#2 turned 16 two weeks ago, she still has her permit and every time she goes around a corner I want to drag her down to DMV to get her license just so I can get out of the damn car.
Renee
Renee - I don't think we had CDs when I started! I was excited to have that tape player that would sort of *flip* itself and play the other side without having to take the tape out. LOL!
My kiddo is not detail oriented, or good at paying attention. I dread the day she starts driving. Luckily, I have 5 or 6 years before that happens. (Not nearly enough time!)
And enough about eyeballs falling out! You're making my eyes water. LOL!
But that no drivin' after three eyeballs is cracking me up. HA!
I'm a master at parallel parking. My dad taught me a trick when I was 17 and it works everytime. Nothing better than parallel parking in front of a man and seeing the impressed look on his face when you get out. LOL!
So are you going to share your trick?
LOL, Mr. Converse, I swear he was 80 when he taught driver's ed way back in ancient 88, he made us drive a big old blue car, I swear was straight out of Starsky and Hutch. All the other kids in school got to drive brand spanking new cars with air conditioning. He had me try to parallel seven times, on the eighth time he said forget it.
When dd#1 went to get her dl, I made her parallel all by herself. I put cones in the street, the brat got it the first time. Dh will be teaching the boy, my heart won't be able to take it.
Oh, yeah. LOL! You line your car up with the one in front of the space you're filling. Then you back up, turning the wheel until your driver's side back corner lines up with the driver's side front corner of the car behind your spot. As soon as the corners are lined up, you turn the wheel the other way and VOILA, you're in perfectly.
Not sure that makes sense typed out. LOL!
I learned in 88! In a Caprice Classic, a BOAT by today's standards. LOL!
Did I mention that I took Drivers Ed in high School with another student who was a midget? They had to install hand controls in the car. They propped her up on pillows and away we went. She almost backed us over a cliff the first day. There's nothing like looking out the back window of a car and staring at a ravine. *shudder*
Holy shit!
Lisa - wow. I can say I've never looked out the window over a cliff. My god!
Oh my god! So I tried to go to the grocery store and got lost somewhere outside Detroit :) Am back now safe and sound with one freakin loaf of bread.
I can't parallel park. I used to be able to - not sure what happened. And eyeballs! I didn't know they could fall out. gah!
I knew mentioning a cell phone while learning to drive would give away my baby-of-the-group status. In my defense, it was one of those huge honkin' ones with the antenna you pull up and flippy thing you drop down to talk. This was the mid-90's after all, and I thought I was just *so* cool that I was the first kid in my school to have one. LOL!
Haleigh - I might have you beat on the baby of the group...I just turned 30. But I didn't get a cell phone until I was in college, so my learning to drive was cell phone free.
I remember our first cell phone...DH dubbed it the ship's anchor.
yup, I'm the baby :) I'm actually not that much younger - I just turned 28 last month. But the cell phone thing was funny because my grandmother was very ill at the time, and we had gotten the phone so we'd be reachable should anything happen. And the guy at the cell phone place where we got it was just horrified that we were planning on leaving it on. He said, "Oh no. You only want to turn it on when you need to make a call, or you know you'll be receiving one. No one just leaves it on." That tells you just how early in the cell phone process this was. I got made fun of a lot at school because my mom made me carry it around, and it was so huge I had to carry it in a big plastic holster hooked to my waist band. It was almost as un-cool as a pocket protector *g*
Hee! I learned in '76, in a Chrysler Cordoba, with "corinthian leather"! Didn't have to parallel park but Mr. Smith made us drive up Cuesta Grade, one of those climb to 1600 feet, windy, twisty, no center guardrail...then back down.
He was also the football coach and knew no fear!
I'm pretty sure there's one on here more baby (though not by much) than you, Hal, but it'll be fun to see if she cops to it. ;)
I'm late to the cell phone thing. I only got my first one in 2002 because my radio station made me. Since they paid for it, I dealt with it. But I didn't like that they could *find* me whenever they wanted. LOL!
I'm cracking up at the giant phone in a holster thing. LOL! Which reminds me, I was surprised recently when I watched My Best Friend's Wedding and saw the phone Julia Roberts' character used. It looks ANCIENT! LOL! What year was that movie made?! (I could look it up, but I'm obviously too lazy....)
::sigh:: What is it they say... you never stop learning? That's how I feel with writing...there's always something I can work on, improve upon, etc. And if I'm not learning about the actual writing there's so much to learn about the era and the lifestyle.
I'll throw in that I was a natural at driving (lucky me!) and got my drivers' license in 2 weeks. However, cooking is a whole different ball game. A gourmet dinner at Casa de Stephanie is Cheerios *with blueberries*.
Stephanie has blueberries! Let's pillage 'er house!
I jus' got home...I oughtta see if it's playin' nearby and jus' go the movies. Leave the husband to continue the job hunt... (No bad news from Friday's interview, jus' no news atall...so ya keeps on applyin'...)
I knew I was one a' the ancients when the crew weren't sure what ta do wit' the trip ta Fantasy Island...
If'n a freeze them, and pop them in a drink...I could get rid a' the novelty eye ice cubes... Hmmmmm.
I watched Fantasy Island. It was one of my grandmother's favorite shows.
*runs away*
fantasy island
*g*
mmm blueberries *g*
Stephanie - There's always more to learn, isn't there? Sometimes I think that's the fun part, and sometimes I just want to bash my head on something.
Hal - If I'm going to jump into writing full time, you're going to have to stop saying things like that. LOL! Sunshine and roses, hon. SUNSHINE AND ROSES!
who me? *big, wide innocent grin*
no prob. I'm on board now. Sunshine and roses :)
OK, that were a nice movie. Tho I think Sandra Bulluck is wa-a-a-a-ay too thin... Loved the naked scene! And what's with the abundance of animals named Kevin? The fluffy white dog? The bird in "UP"... Most popular name thing I wasn't aware of?
So, final question... "What is your favorite color when she isn't home?"
Love credits with extra bits a' fun in 'em.
Grandma's favorite show...
*flippin' the big bird at ya!
Bet ya don't remember the joys a Corinthian leather either...
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