The European Summer

Hello. I’m an American and I was going to do a lot of things this summer.

I was going to finish one last edit of my memoir.

I was going to make sure my entire novel was outlined.

I was going to pitch additional inflight magazines after finally breaking into one.

I was going to keep up with this blog.

I was going to work full time as a copywriter.

I was going to keep up with my magazine column.

I was going to tell everyone that asked how busy I was.

But the only thing I accomplished on this list over the summer were the last three.

As an American, I feel like a slacker. And I hate this “if I’m not busy then I’m not worthy” thing that still haunts me, even five years after being abroad. So I’m trying to embrace my European status instead. Key word, trying.

A European would feel fine about my accomplishments this summer. After all, many small stores and restaurants in Switzerland close completely in July and August. I think as creative people (and especially as Americans), we can learn from this. So I’m trying not to be too hard on myself for not accomplishing everything I wanted. After all, it is summer. I am in Europe. And with the little free time I have, the pool is calling my name.

Anyone else trying to embrace their European side this summer?

The importance of planning

How many times have you started a novel or memoir, gotten about 20K words in, and then realized you had no idea where the story was going?

Hopefully only once.

However. Speaking from experience and from talking to other writers, it’s all too easy to do multiple times. Sometimes I get so caught up in making sure I’m writing a certain number of words every day that I fail to realize I should check that it’s all going to lead to an ending that makes sense.

This happened to me with the memoir. I had about 30K words and then decided to outline, the result being a complete redo.

Then I started a novel, this time writing the synopsis first. It was a valiant effort, but alas, the novel is now 20K words and I’m realizing I really need to reevaluate where the story is going and how it is going to get resolved. However, at least this time the realization is more about the fact that I need to do a lot more research on some of the topics relating to the novel to ensure that the ending makes sense and is probable. But at least there is an ending.

So now, instead of writing, I’m reading, watching documentaries, and outlining. And I know it’s still writing work, but without the word count ticking upwards, it often feels like I’m barely accomplishing anything.

Anyone else have a word count obsession too? Or participate in NaNoWriMo only to realize everything you wrote during that time had to be redone?

5 Fun Ways to Improve Your Writing

Writers should have more fun. We're so serious all the time, sending queries, reading literary masterpieces, analyzing misplaced modifiers, it's enough to make anyone we live with go crazy (sorry, Husband!)–not to mention ourselves.

My best writing happens when I stop working and start playing. Here are a few ways I've had fun with writing that I recommend.

One. Take singing lessons. People used to ask me, “what are you going to do, sing your jingles?” It was a fair question since I was a double major in both music and advertising at the University of Illinois. But now I know this: learning to sing is great training for being a writer. You learn to listen to words. You sing poetry. And you learn to explore the rhythm of many languages, including English. And yes, sometimes you even end up singing jingles. In German.

Two. Take a copywriting class. Attending a school like the VCU Brandcenter as a copywriter is a great alternative to an MFA. You’ll learn how to create more ideas than you ever thought possible, how to come back with 50 more after they’re ripped apart in your face, and how to say the most in the least amount of words. And at the end of the program, you’ll even be employable.

Three. Live abroad. According to a professor at INSEAD, living abroad makes us more creative. You’ll solve problems in new ways, fill in the blanks of conversations, and see yourself and your home country with a new perspective. If you want to combine living abroad with learning copywriting, check out the Miami Ad School. They have locations all over the world.

Four. Read. Nothing said more fun to me as a child than those crinkly tissue paper book order forms. And bonus! Reading really is one of the best ways to improve your writing. And don’t just stick to one kind of book—read them all—travel guidebooks, literary magazines, trashy magazines, novels, tax forms, memoirs—you never know what’s going to inspire or what you’ll want to make fun of in an essay later.

Five. Practice. Like learning an instrument, like playing a sport, you don’t get better at writing without practicing. But practicing doesn't have to suck. If it does, you're practicing the wrong way. Find what is fun: keep a blog, keep a journal, volunteer to write for the local newspaper, write postcards, it's all writing. And do it every day—even when it doesn’t seem to matter, even when every editor seems to be ignoring you, even when you feel like giving up. Don’t. Just figure out a way to play instead of work.

How do you make writing fun?

What Swiss Transportation Can Teach Us About Writing

(photo by Brian Opyd)

The Swiss transportation system is notorious for its timeliness and efficiency. So what can writers learn from it?

Punctuality is important. If you aren’t on time, you’ll be left behind. Meeting deadlines, whether they are self-imposed or from an assignment, is important and will help separate you from the millions of other wannabe writers.

Have a plan. The Swiss do. That’s how they wake up in the city and are at the top of a snowy mountain in time for lunch: The tram connects to the train that connects to the bus that connects to the cable car that gets them to that mountain restaurant at the top of the Alps. But if you don’t know each step that will take you there, how will you get to lunch? This same concept applies to writing. I have learned that a big goal—in this case, writing a memoir—must be broken down into easy digestible steps—and you must know what they are.

Slow and steady (usually) wins the race. The Swiss don’t have high-speed trains. But their punctuality, efficient timetables, and dependable schedules mean that about 99% of the time, you always reach your destination as planned. Rushing through things is usually not the answer—especially when it comes to writing.

Go outside your comfort zone. Swiss trains don’t just end in Switzerland. I can use my Swiss pass in Lichtenstein (ooh Lichtenstein!), to border towns in Germany (yes! cheaper groceries!), and to get half-price tickets in Austria. Reaching further than you think you can go with your writing is important too.

Trust is paramount. You can ride a tram in Zurich for over two years before someone official will actually check to make sure you bought a ticket. The level of trust in Switzerland is high, and likewise, as a writer, you could use a little of this trust. Trust that you can reach your goals. Trust that you are good enough. Trust that what you are writing is important.

What has something unexpected taught you about writing?

New Year. Old Journal.

I admit it. I am a crappy journal keeper. There have been brief periods in my life where I've written in a journal every day, but usually it becomes a chore rather than something I enjoy.

Instead, since 1987, I have kept a New Year's Eve journal since this involves only writing one entry per year and is therefore a less daunting task for a reluctant journal keeper like myself. So each year, on New Year's Eve, I write a short summary of what I and each person in my family was up to during the year. Then I also write about:

-my friends (it's interesting to see how some are always there and others come and go)
-fun things I did during the year
-bad things that happened
-activities and jobs held (I also used to list classes and teachers when I was a student)
-what I got for Christmas
-best books/movies/boyfriends of the year
-what I did on New Year's Eve
-what I hope to accomplish for the following year

It's always entertaining to read prior entries (who was the cute boy back in 1992?) and also the previous year's entry to see if I accomplished any of my goals (happily, I did accomplish 5 out of 6 of the goals for 2009). This year's writing goals include breaking into one additional major publication, revising my memoir, and finding an agent.

How about you? Do you keep a journal or something like it? What writing goals do you hope to accomplish this year?