Back to the Classroom for Inspiration

I’ve been taking a novel-writing class for the last six weeks. It is my third official all-inclusive “specifically how to write novels vs. other kinds of writing” type of class. Why take three (or even two) swings at novel-writing lessons? Well, because I wanted know if I had forgotten giant chunks of stuff about writing novels while I was off writing my novels.

So I signed up for a refresher class, just to feel it out (and to avoid rewriting chapter three again–man, that one is clunky).

What I learned:

1) I enjoyed my class time. It is fun and inspirational to review the novel-writing process.

2) I had not forgotten giant chunks of information–whew!–although I wasn’t currently using all of the novel-writing tools available to me in the most productive ways.

3) Even though I got to do lots of novel-writing thinking and novel-writing planning during my class, I wasn’t actually getting any new pages done on my novel. I was writing about writing my novel. Which isn’t going to get chapter three rewritten, no matter how much I wish it would.

So, I need to face the facts. Learning is necessary, but at some point you gotta sit down and use the skills you’ve added to your arsenal. You gotta practice on the novel by practicing ON the novel. My novel. Now. Type, type, type. Delete key, delete key, delete key. Begin the whole thing again tomorrow. Which is exactly what I’ll be doing next.

Chapter three, here I come…

X-Ray Vision

Today I re-read “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver. I’ll have the opportunity to dissect and discuss this short story at my writing class tomorrow, and I’m itching to hear what my fellow writers have to say about this piece of work. For me, I thoroughly enjoyed the story when I first came across it a few years back.

Today, I had an even better experience. Why was reading this classic short story so much more satisfying this time around? Here is what I think:

Studying the craft of writing has given me x-ray vision.

Well, not quite, but I’m learning to see beyond the actual words of these stories and appreciate the bones and organs hard at work beneath the surface. “Cathedral” is about a man who has his eyes opened, ironically, by a blind man. Today I was swept away watching the main character evolve from his close-mindedness, just as I was the first time, but this morning I was able to stop and acknowledge all of the writerly magic Raymond Carver used to make this story so appealing. His down home voice, the spare imagery, his use of long/short sentences in just the right place, the completely uncomfortable first few hours these characters share, and more–all purposely placed to evoke an emotional response from the readers. And did it ever. Brilliant.

I’m so glad I can finally see it.

New Year, New Project

I am still typing away at the latest draft of my novel-in-progress, but I’ve got a new story forming in my creative world, too. I’m collecting ideas and sentences in a file folder near my desk. This week, I’ll give the new project a little more time and attention, maybe even experiment with a chapter or two.

That brings me to the thought of first drafts. I’ve had plenty of them. Many have become published works, but there are at least as many stories that never evolved into something worth sharing. The trouble is, you don’t know which way it’s going to go until you’re pretty far into the project. Every first draft is a leap of faith. And leaping is scary.

But leaping can by joyous, too. I love the rush of energy when new words flow from my fingers. I love the way unexpected thoughts and ideas pop up in the process. I love it when the idea from that manila folder on your desk becomes something even better than you imagined.

So, here I go. New year, new project. I’m leaping again.