Day 5: Prepare

Although I'm not a gourmet cook, I enjoy trying new recipes. And I've learned that preparation is the key ingredient to successful culinary ventures. Taking time to line up the necessary ingredients, measure them out properly and have them ready to add at the appropriate time increases the odds of a good outcome. It also means the cook is far less frazzled and more likely to enjoy the meal. Just as a cook prepares for delectable creations, so must a writer prepare for greatness. Lining up the ingredients for a writer means doing the research, thinking the project though, getting feedback before and after the writing is done, and finally sending it out into the world.

I'm better at some of those steps than others.

I'm good at doing research. I like delving into the nuts and bolts of an idea, looking up pertinent quotations and information, seeking out sources. I'm great at the "shitty first drafts" that Anne Lamott talks about in Bird by Bird (my writing Bible).

But sometimes I don't think things through carefully enough, and because of that my writing is less authentic than it should be. It doesn't tunnel as deeply as it should into layers of ideas and expression.

And I'm terrible about getting feedback on my work. My natural reticence causes me to hide away, makes it difficult for me to ask any of my writer friends to read and comment on my projects.

One way to get the feedback we need, Jeff Goinstells us today, one essential way to prepare for greatness, is to ship even if it's not as good as you want it to be. Put something out there and see what happens.

That's hard.

Because there is a huge risk involved in that action. Risk of criticism. Risk of rejection. Risk of failure.

Honestly, I'm not prepared for any of that.

When I'm cooking, there's always a moment of fear before when I turn on the stove and start putting all those well prepared ingredients to the fire. Will it turn out the way I hoped? Will it look like the glossy magazine picture accompanying the recipe? Most importantly, will my family smile with satisfaction at the first tasty bite?

All the preparation in the world is meaningless until you finish the product.

The proof is in the pudding.

Prepare for it.

weekending

two days of savoring milky babies breath and drool moistened kissesenjoying squeals of delight wrapping my arms around the solid weight of promise and perfection babies are so lovely they have a way of making everything else seem trivial just by the virtue of their existence for what could be more important than reading, playing, feeding, napping, cuddling, rocking with this baby?

Checking In

We flew into Dallas on Wednesday for a five day visit with our son, daughter-in-law, and the Fabulous Mr. Connor. We call him that because he is the most fabulous of babies (although as I write this, it's 6 p.m. and he's crying up quite a storm -I do remember there was something about 6 p.m. that's made it an evil hour for babies). But 99% of the time, he's cool as a cucumber. Patient, cheerful, cooperative - a good eater and a good sleeper. What more can anyone ask?

I did not bring a computer with me, other than my iPad, but I've been participating in the 25 Habits of Great Writers that Jeff Goins is hosting, and my daily posts are over at Write on Wednesday. For writer friends, it's an interesting and inspiring exercise. Give it a look.

Otherwise, you probably won't see much of me until next week.

I'm just soaking up baby right now.

When I get home, I've decided my summer wardrobe really needs updating. Even though I'm working mostly from home, I'm tired of feeling dowdy. Despite my best efforts to the contrary, photos from the weekend indicate my appearance is leaning much more toward the the look of middle-aged matron than I'd like. Grandmother I may be, but I don't have to look like one. Perhaps I'll even look into some seamless shape wear, although it would take the best bra around to make anything much of my figure these days.

Oh well. Hopefully, Connor will love me no matter what.

Happy weekending.

Day 4: Practice

You need to show up and show us your gift. Until you do that you're just practicing in private.

It's Show Time.

Time to bring the writing out of dusty practice rooms.

Time to give it a shove between the shoulder blades and push it stumbling and weak-kneed onto the stage.

To me, this habit might better be named "performance" than practice. Yes, practice is necessary. But when you're talking about going public, then it's performance time all the way.

We 21st century writers are lucky. We have a stage readily available, with performance times open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People can enjoy the show for free (good for them, not so good for us) and a often as they like.

I'm talking about the internet, of course, and I make great use of the world wide web as a performance venue for my writing.

But sometimes I think it's a little too easy.

After all, I only have to write something for one of my blogs, hit "publish" and there it is.

Easy peasy.

As much as I appreciate the format, blogging is not the Carnegie Hall of writing. Remember the old joke about how you get there?

Practice, practice, practice.

So maybe I should be working a little harder, aiming a little higher. Toward magazines, essay collections, even a book.

The Carnegie Halls of writing will take a lot of practice too. No more dashing off those cute blog posts or glib book reviews. The kind of writing I have in mind will take careful thought, research, revision.

I've got the ideas already in my head. I've just never had the initiative to move forward with them.

Perhaps this 15 Habits of Great Writers is the shove between the shoulders I need to get me on the stage with a whole new repertoire.

Stay tuned. We'll see what the program looks like.

Day 3: Initiate

Declaration. I am a writer.Belief. I know I can do this.

But do what exactly?

How fine it is to make the outer declaration and hold fast to that inner faith. But without the initiative to take concrete action, declaration and belief aren't even worth a cup of coffee.

And we all know how much writers need their coffee.

This third of the 15 Habits of Great Writers is the bugler's reveille. Pick the thing you most want to write and start writing it. Even if it's scary, even if you have no idea where to begin.

Begin you must, and that is what Great Writers do every day.

In addition to being a writer, I'm also a musician. I'm a pianist, and I've worked as an accompanist for some wonderful school choirs, as well as churches and community groups. I'm also a handbell player, and have played with a professional group. You'd think I'd be satisfied with my proficiency in these instruments.

But no. The musical thing I really wish I could do is sing.

As an accompanist, I work with singers all the time. I'm in the background, and part of me likes that just fine. The spotlight isn't on me. I'm a support person at heart, and I'm usually content to bask in reflected glory.

Deep down, though, I hunger to be the star, the one who can open their mouth and release melody into the air.

Writing is no different. I'm pretty comfortable in my niches - blogging, book reviewing, technical writing.

But oh how I crave to write a novel.

To create an entire world spun from the web of my imagination.

That would take a major initiative on my part.

I don't know if I'm "great" enough for that just yet.