I knew that 2019 would be the year I committed to writing my memoir. I had been preparing for years, putting thoughts and ideas in folders on my laptop, knowing there would be a right time when it would come to life. As 2018 came to an end, I knew without a doubt the right time had arrived.
I did a lot of research before I began. This would be my first book and I wanted to be smart about it; I wanted to be professional. I knew that in order to actually get it done, I’d need to have a strategy – a certain amount of words per day, a set number of days per week that I would spend writing, a timeline for a finished first draft – it would all need to be mapped out. I even decided to not drink alcohol, because as one author I had researched put it, he wanted his mind to be sharp and focused during the writing process. Made sense to me.
Let’s just say, things didn’t exactly turn out like I had planned.
From having to move out of what I thought would be my writing haven and facing a radical change in my mode of transportation, to babies being born and people suddenly leaving this earth, it seems life has been one distraction after another. How bad do you want to write this memoir? the Universe seemed to be saying.
Well, I just quit my job to give this memoir all the attention it deserves. That’s how bad.
This leap of faith will definitely require a glass of wine or two! But I’m okay with that, and I’ve come to terms with the reality that this memoir is apparently supposed to be written from someone else’s couch and while members of my family go through significant life events. I have to laugh at yet another reminder that we can make all the plans we want, but we need to be ready to switch gears at a moment’s notice.
I’m looking forward to the next few months as I head in to the unknown with my laptop and coffee mug. I’ll be adding some thoughts on this blog along the way, but in the mean time, I’d love to hear from those of you that have already written a book or perhaps more than one. Please leave a comment and share your experience! What challenges did you face while writing? Any suggestions for first-time authors?
Until next time…
To get a first draft done, it is good to work at it every day. That keeps up the momentum so you don’t have to keep starting over. There are many distractions, interruptions and gremlins who say “who cares?” I write long hand at first, at a table in my bedrooom that is reserved just for that. The last lengthy book I wrote was Writing Home: A Whole Life Practice and I did it a chapter at a time by knowing people were waiting for it. I made each chapter available to people when they were finished. (The book has personal essays, poems and writing practices for people to write their own story and it’s available with my mentoring program.) I’ve found I can’t continually write it in isolation. I go to retreats to write poetry with other poets for four days with a master teacher. Or I’ve gone on retreat with other writers without a teacher there. I lead women’s writing circles and I stay in touch with a writing community so I’m not alone. Creating a writing group with others who are also writing memoir could help. Not so much for the critique but to have people cheering you on, wanting more. It all takes much longer than you would expect!
Thanks for sharing your experience, Mary Ann. Three things jump out at me immediately: “work at it every day”, “I did it a chapter at a time by knowing people were waiting for it” and “I stay in touch with a writing community”. One – I believe it’s important to write every day, no matter what, and I’ve somehow let that slip this last while. So, thank you for the important opening line. Two – the idea that people are waiting for it is priceless, and apparently I needed to hear that a second time, as a good friend of mine had already informed me this was the case. For some reason, I needed another nudge. Thinking from that perspective is huge, and powerful. Three – you have me re-thinking the benefits of community. I thought I needed isolation, as what I’m writing about is a little tough emotionally, but now you have me thinking and I’m not so sure. I love your clarification that it’s not so much for the critique but to have people cheering you on. Yes!!
Wonderful food-for-thought…thanks again for your comments!
Carol