A Few Things I Learned about Writing in 2009
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Last year I began teaching creative writing, with no thought about how it might affect my own writing.
But as I taught (actually, as I hammered away at) my students--mostly boomers and seniors--about what their writing had to reflect if they wanted it to be read by anyone, let alone published, I realized I was learning a ton about writing myself.
For example, many students writing memoirs simply reported their lives. Emotion, reflection, the meaning of events and patterns in their lives were completely absent. In my own nonfiction writing, occasionally editors have asked me where *I* am in the piece. In other words, the writing didn't reflect my presence or emotional stake in the story I told.
I also write a blog on creative writing at www.simmons.edu/reconnect/lynette-benton. One post was titled, "Finding Time to Write." While developing the tips, I saw that I could use my own time better to squeeze out an additional hour or more a week to devote to my writing.
I've been a little embarrassed to find that I don't always do what I teach my students, but I'm glad of the wake up calls!
A third thing I learned is the importance of encouraging aspiring writers.
My writing advisory group told me to convey the enthusiasm I have for writing to my students and blog readers. As it turned out, the group was right: when I gave a 2-hour presentation on Tools & Tactics for Creative Writers, the students expressed their thanks for the tools, but especially for the encouragement I gave them. It should have been obvious to me: who doesn't need encouragement? But I'm sure grateful to my writer friends for the reminder! As Deborah wrote in "10 Things I Learned about Writing in 2009, "friends don't let friend write alone." Thank goodness!
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Just joined "She Writes" so I am just now reading your post. I found it refreshing and honest. I am new to writing even though I've written a book--I too still have problems adding emotions to my writing. I hope someday to take time to be a student of writing before I go further. I will definitely read "Finding Time to Write."
Such true words! We all need encouragement and support and friendship in our writings, no matter "where" we are in them. I definitely need and will be reading your post on Finding Time to Write in the next few minutes. Thanks from of us writers!
Lynnette--I love this post. I'm going to ask you to be my friend.
Lovely post, Lynette. Nice reminder that encouragement (whether we teach or not) goes a long way.
Teaching is an important part of my passion for writing. It's wonderful to pass on writing tools, and every time I teach I learn something I can use in my own work. And you're so right about encouraging writers. I find this especially true of teen writers. At the end of the day, all they want is to be told they've done something good.
Lynette -- what a terrific post! I relate to it very much. I taught two memoir writing classes to adults, continuing ed (also mostly boomers and seniors, with the occasional young-twenties attendee), and I found that going through the fundamentals of character, story, setting and dialogue was refreshing, helpful and very good for my own work. It's almost as though you can't revisit those topics often enough; and the process of stepping back from writing and really talking about it makes a big difference. I also believe in the importance (and the rewards) of encouraging aspiring writers (I still feel like one, really), and hope to do that here at She Writes as much as we can. Would love to hear more about "Tools and Tactics for Creative Writers," maybe you can send me a message at [email protected] and tell me more!