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Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life
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Dear Reader,
Have a question about writing? I can't send everyone a personal reply, but each week I'll respond to questions in my column. Email your question to: [email protected]
Today's writing questions are by far the most intriguing and entertaining I've ever received.
"Hi Suzanne,
I have never read anything you have written and only heard of you through my Google search for 'writer's questions.' As a matter of fact, I don't read at all. Which brings me to my first question. Should I be a reader to become a writer?
I began writing about a month ago. I'm calling my work my memoires, for quite literally, the lack of any other term. I am fifty-seven-years-old and have been badgered by my daughter to recall my childhood memories. She seems to think they're worth remembering. I thought so too, until I began writing them, which brings me to my second question. Is it normal for a writer to write, rewrite, write again, and then hate what they have rewritten?
It takes me what seems to be forever to write just one paragraph. Then, after tweaking this and scratching that, I feel as though I have compromised my integrity by writing from a thesaurus rather than from my heart. Now I'm thinking of rewriting this entire email because I'm not sure I'm writing this correctly. I have rewritten, and reread this short paragraph about ten times and am wrestling myself to the ground, to keep from deleting it. I do enjoy writing, but I grow tired from trying to edit my work. It's never good enough for me. Is this normal? Are you going to advise me after reading this copy, "Why don't you try gardening instead?"
J. Molineaux P.S. I just went to Roget's hoping to find a better word than 'suggestions.'
(Suzanne replies:) What an entertaining, crazy email. Thank you for sending it. (Not too worry, a little bit crazy is one of the ingredients of a great writer, so that's a compliment.) There aren't any rules about how to be a writer, so you can be a writer, without being a reader. But having said that, at some point you're going to have to become a reader, in order to read what you've written--and rewritten--and rewritten again. Yes indeed, the never being quite satisfied with your work, feeling the need to write and rewrite, it's what a writer does. Actually the "real" writing appears in the second, third, fourth and fifth drafts. But remember, at some point you have to let go of what you've written in order to share it with other people.
Do you realize what a gift it is that your daughter wants to read about your childhood memories? Forget the thesaurus, I think your daughter will enjoy reading what you've written much more, if it comes from your heart, in your own words. You have a humorous take on things and you're not afraid to poke fun at yourself. But the angst and anxiety you're feeling when you write, forget trying to analyze it. Instead, tap into the creativity.
Your breezy comment about gardening, actually it's good advice. Worms, butterflies, squirrels running through the trees overhead, flowers blooming, something new and exciting appearing in your garden every single day--how could a writer not be inspired by all of that beauty? Get your fingernails dirty, then brush them off and start clicking those keys. Your number one fan (your daughter) is waiting to read what you've written.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.muffinsandmayhem.com/
KIDSBUZZ: MEET new authors--send an email, ask a question and they will reply. Plus enter to win a free copy of THERE IS NO DOG, a darkly funny novel from one of our most delightfully unpredictable teen writers, Meg Rossoff. For a chance to win, say hello to the authors, and more, see www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz
AUTHORBUZZ: ONE BOOK IN THE GRAVE: A Bibliophile Mystery by Kate Carlisle
Bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright's chance to restore a rare first edition of Beauty and the Beast seems a fairy tale come true--until she realizes the book once belonged to an old friend who died under mysterious circumstances. Brooklyn goes in search of the book dealer who sold the Beauty, but when she arrives at his shop, she finds him murdered.
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on ONE BOOK IN THE GRAVE to read more and to email author Kate Carlisle, you'll get a reply.
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