" The first draft is just you telling yourself the story." -Terry Pratchett |
9/5/2019 1 Comment Writing Process Roundtable Hi, my name is Shayla Montgomery, and this is my 2nd Blog but , writing is still a new learning process for me. All writers must start some where and this somewhere for me is the Writing Process Roundtable. In this process I’ll be sitting down to discuss The Writing Process with authors Ann Lamott, Mary Karr, and Don Murray. I hope after reading this blog, it will be insightful and help other who too struggle with writing. Below I have left links to each writers’ book.
Teach Writing as a Process Not a Product (Don Murray) Against Vanity: In Praise of Revision (Mary Karr) Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life | pp. 28 -34 | Short Assignments & Shitty First Drafts (Anne Lamott) Today was a beautiful day and most importantly its my day off from school and work . Which are very rare cases, because normally when I’m off from one place I’m at another. So, I decided that I should finish up my English Composition 1 paper on this beautiful sunny inspired day. I wanted to try something different I usually type my papers up in my dining room but today I wanted to be inspired so I decided to change my environment. I stopped at Starbucks first to get my favorite drink a passion fruit ice- tea lemonade, I know it sound like a sugar volcano, but whenever I’m writing I need energy, and this drink does the trick. Instead of being lazy and pulling through the drive thru. I decided to carry my laptop inside Starbucks while I sit down and sip on my tea. Looking at the different people sitting down all engaged in their phones, business calls, laptops, and books. I couldn’t figure out where I wanted to sit until I found a table with two women sitting down deep into a discussion. So, I walked up and asked if they had room for one more and delighted, they answered yes, we all introduced ourselves to one another. The first lady sitting to my right name was Ann Lamott, and her friend sitting across the table name was Mary Karr. After everyone was acquainted, they informed me that they had another friend joining us named Don Murray, and that they were all writers. What’s the odds that I’m trying to write a paper and I run into three writers. I swiftly mentioned that I was writing a paper and that I couldn’t quite figure out how to even begin. Just as Ann began to answer my question an older fellow walked up to the table and greeted us all. The ladies informed him who I was and how I had writers block. Don Murray started off by saying “Its is the responsibility of the student to explore his own world with his own language, to discover his own meaning.” The room was quite for about a minute and then Anne and Mary both nod with agreement. I thought long and hard about what Don said and he was right. For me to be able to write my own words I needed to dig deep inside myself and explore my own mind. Don Murray then went on to say “There must be time for the writing process to take place and time for it to end. I needed to sip on more of my tea before I opened my mouth for a deeper discussion on what he meant by that.I think Don was saying at some point you need to just start writing and see where it leads you, and once you figure out what direction you have to keep in mind that you have to finish in a timely matter and complete your writing. The ladies sat back in silence as if Don was on the stage, or the lead act and they were in the audience. Don rubbed his long grey beard as if he was stuck into his own advice or maybe he was thinking of more advice to give me. He excused his self away from the table to go order a round of coffee for everyone. The ladies smiled at me and then asked I need more advice I briefly answered yes like a desperate mad woman. Mary Karr started off by saying “You can be a slave to current magazines or a slave to history.” I Sat there wondering how we even got about history when I’m trying to write my English paper! Mary went on to explain by saying “History’s harder, but also more stable-and the books are better because they’ve been culled over time.” So basically, I perceived this meaning stick to things that are original and not so much what’s trending. Don Murray came back with five cups of hot espresso which he suggested would be more effective then my tea when it came to enhanced energy. We all took sips of the steaming espresso and then Don remembered the conversation we last had. Don Murray began by saying “There are no rules, no absolutes, just alternatives.” The writing process was becoming more and more clear to me so many ideas were now entering my mind. Don Murray received a phone call and informed us that he had to exit the conversation and that he enjoyed our conversation on the writing process. Anne Lamott, Mary Karr, and I finished up our still warm cups of expresso and continued with our deep and interesting conversation about writing. Anne Lamott said, “Very few writers really know what they are doing until they’ve done it.” Which made me feel very relieved to know that I wasn’t the first person who struggled with writing a paper. Anne Lamott jokingly said, “For me and most of the other writers I know, writing is not rapturous.” “In fact, the only way I can get anything written at all is to write really, really shitty first drafts.” We all busted out in laughter at the same time, and it felt good to laugh with the ladies since our previous conversation were more serious. Anne then looked to Mary Karr as if she expected her to also give me her very best advice or any suggestions even though Mary had spoken earlier. Mary Karr started by saying “Actually, every writer needs two selves-the generative and the editor self.” Mary Karr also told me “Let your mind roam down some alleys that may land in dead ends-that’s the nature of the process.” I was so honored to be in the presence of these two amazing women. I appreciated their supportiveness, and honesty, especially because I was a stranger to them. They had only met me an hour ago in a coffee shop but, yet the information they exchanged with me was so useful. Even Don’s words inspired me, and I couldn’t wait to get back to the comfort of my quiet home. I had learned so much within a day’s time information that would last a lifetime. I now realized that with writing the process is different for everyone, and there are different methods to how you can complete the task. “Writing is an expression of words that comes from the mind and heart, it isn’t something that just shows up like a magical unicorn.”With practice and plenty rough drafts, a writer will recognize their own weakness and turn them into strengths. “ I’m my own biggest critic so no one can scrutinize me more than myself.” I hope with each writing assignment that I complete that I show a great significant improvement in my writing skills and some day be able to start my own personal blog. I strongly believe “You can never work too much on your dreams, because you are your best investment.”
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Shayla MontgomeryHi I'm Shayla I'm a wife, mother, and student. I currently work full-time while going to school part-time to obtain an degree i nursing. Archives
December 2019
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