During the last few months I have received many questions such as
to how I have gone from being an unknown writer to overcoming
contradictory thoughts of society about what writing should be and
become a famous writer. So today I was inspired to
write about this. Let me introduce you to an essential part of my story. And how
In all stories there is always more depth.
When it comes to being judged by society’s belief in what
good writing is, I fully understand stress. Condition
through that. For years I was a closet writer because the
feedback I received from writing instructors (of various
levels) was, “Your writing is… it’s… it’s different and I’m
really qualified to comment.” I took this to mean: “I
I was a lousy writer.” So every day I wrote in silence, I read it,
he agreed, and tossed it into a growing set of boxes.
Years and 72 boxes later, my insides were screaming. Tea
screaming anger unfolded all I did and
everyone I touched. After my father died, he was sick of
life, society and all the duties of my life. i knew it was
angry about something but had no idea what at the time. With
full level of frustration and disgust, I decided to give
everything, take a year off and travel to each writing
conference, study wherever I could, with anyone I could, and
“really” learn to write. She had no idea what she was looking for.
for at that time. Now I realize that she was looking for me
personal voice and my writing voice.
After traveling I returned home to Virginia without feeling that
much better about my writing than when I started. I did
I noticed that my skin was a little harder but it was still
angry, still embarrassed by my call to write. and so far
Like my skill level, I didn’t feel like there was much improvement.
The feedback I received was similar to what I received.
prior to. A teacher, in a workshop at Puget Sound Writing
Conference, Washington State, told me, “If I continue to work in
maybe (with heavy voice emphasis on maybe) someday in 10
years or so I’ll be good enough to publish my writing.
From time to time a light would appear in my tunnel. once was
when attending the International Writers Guild (IWG)
annual retreat in Syracuse, New York. hundreds of women
writers, all supportive, all different in many ways. Tea
the positive energy was empowering. I took away from this that
there was no exact science to writing. Learning to
Trusting my own femininity at 52 was a whole new eye.
opening experience for me. There was a change in my writing.
voice.
A few weeks into my year, I woke up crying. he is not a gentleman
I sob but a whaler. He was angry. I was angry. In the
world, myself, the lampshade, it didn’t matter. me
I kicked off shoes, went for a walk and wrote pages in my diary
trying to understand what was going on. There was a rage
an internal struggle between what feeds back and its
suggestions and my internal dialogue. Later I realized the
The writer inside struggled to get out.
Afterwards, my pissed off stopped “fuck everyone.” I apologize
for the language ladies and gentlemen but I am sharing my truth.
I decide to just put it there and let it land where
May. Grammar errors, imperfections, you name it.
Let the commas be too many or too few.
The first time I had to let go it took me a week of internship
dialogues and more edits than I’m willing to admit, in
release order. (Actually, my first experience with more than
edit.) My emotions changed for hours. my family ran
over the hills and didn’t know what to do with myself. je n’ai pas
He doesn’t even know what to do with me.
The first time an English specialist sent me his
suggestion that I might want to improve my grammar first,
notice they were never specific of where or even what
were reading, I would cry again. this would make me
stop writing for the rest of the day. the next day i
it was back to a “what the hell __” again (thank God).
Next, I wanted to address adding discipline to my writing.
Boy boy, that was easy to say but hard to implement. me
I soon learned that he preferred to clean the refrigerator,
even visiting the dentist instead of sitting in a
specific time to write. Since then and over time, I learned
how this same evasion spread to other places in
my life.
I never suffered from writer’s block. me
I’ve always felt comfortable writing about almost anything (a
blessing and a curse). The curse is that I was spreading my
concentrate too much. However, she was happy and having a ball and
That’s why I kept doing it that way. Looking back now I
I can see how much I needed to release all my bottling
emotions at that moment.
Success in focusing was not easy. But eventually the
the excuses were over and the emotions were balanced began to arrive
naturally. When I learn to put my needs first, which also
meant writing, the anger never surfaced. In fact I was down
nice to be around the rest of the day. Me
the discipline began with an hour of writing each morning
and it has become an experience from 5 to 8 in the morning and an hour
in the afternoon reviewing my notes of the day.
The more I wrote, the more exit opportunities appeared
my door. I started three ezines, including a journal. Then I
began to write for other professionals and the Internet and
magazine articles.
When I began to allow my writings to become public, even one
email about my English skills made me cry and
I couldn’t write the rest of the day. Thanks god
it didn’t last and the next morning I was writing again. A
That moment I realized the importance of a discipline
writing time
Eventually, I started getting feedback on how people loved
what I wrote, I liked my ideas, and the occasion passed
grammar error My name even found its place in some locals
newspapers, including the Washington Post. The positive
the feedback was much bigger than “you have to do better”
messages They began with three pats to a scolding. After
moved to six pats to one. Then 30 pats to 1.
And the most surprising part: I was happier than ever. You
I could find myself starting my weekend day writing at McDonalds
(the only place open at 6 am), at 10 in the bookstore, at 3
the library, by 6 returning home and satisfied. There was
leisure time on park benches, especially in spring, museums
and shopping malls in bad weather. In Myself
Frequent stops Employees or regular customers stopped and asked what
He was working and voluntarily shared his thoughts and
ideas on the subject. Some agreed, some didn’t, but the magic
was my writing was richer thanks to them, because of the
environmental switches.
My writing continued to improve and what I produced tripled.
Every once in a while I would read something I wrote earlier and sit
numb, not believing, “I wrote that!” Even my inner critic
stopped hitting.
Now my email pat-to-grammar ratio doesn’t matter. I know
there is more to learn but i am so glad my writing is available
the public eye. I write every chance I can and do the
room for it in my life. Topics don’t matter, not even first
quality matter. As long as it’s on a page somewhere
and sure.
Some time ago I started outlining (mind maps) before
writing. Before outlining was not my thing. I have also
I learned that if I don’t have a certain number of
the points do not start to be written. Yet even I can’t get enough
to start writing, my mind is still spinning and building and
something better always comes along. something that couldn’t
spawn without rolling first.
Over the years, my handwriting has gone from good to worse.
What I’ve also realized is that my first draft is
sometimes just me jumping and trying to find my way
in the subject. Almost like a maze. Subsequently, I highlight
good thing and I usually find that there is more than one topic to go
with.
My advice to people who want to write: follow their
heart. Trust that it will lead you on the right path.
Trust that today’s writing will always look different tomorrow
and your writing will always improve and evolve the more
write. Not any book you read, you write conference you
wait, the best lessons are learned by writing regularly.
One of my favorite quotes is: “Great things come from
smaller actions”. The light will come after you complete
many small actions. The same thing I did and many who preceded me
Yo, there’s light available in the tunnel and you’ll see
changes within you that will be transferred to the pages.
Writing will always be an evolving process, even after the
Pulitzer.
Worry about grammar until its time, not before. If you
learn one writing tip a week and include it in your writing
all week, can’t help but get better ’cause that’s 52
improvements per year.
You don’t need much, a word can do. For a year I wrote
394 articles of one word: honor. Every time I completed
one article the word was complete, another appeared. If I
i thought i could write so many articles with one word
Before this experience I would laugh at you. eventually i
called trick. It was amazing to see my bar as it was kept
higher and higher An experience that feeds my beliefs today.
Every time I started writing another honor story I was
I transitioned at age seven watching my dad throw the ball
against the steel milk bottles, feeling like I just won the
1st prize teddy bear. Yes, the largest at the top.
shelf, the one that looks twice my size.
Sometimes thoughts raced so fast that I was forced to
stop what you were doing and write what you could. Many times I
had to pull off the road and lower it.
Even today there are times when my writing doesn’t
sense, but now I know that I can’t go to the next point
until I get rid of these things first. Like many writers, we
everyone has a few boxes or stacks of these.
For all those who feel the need to write but haven’t. Let me
quotes Nike, “just do it.” Let go of all inhibitions, they
It’s nonsense until after all the editing. Let the command
fall where they can. Write without any attachment to
Leave. That comes later.
It took time for my writing to become a hundred thousand
dollar business. Even a year ago I wouldn’t have thought about it.
possible and would have laughed at that. am
happy than ever No crying, just writing. without kicking the
Shoes. No more doubting my chances (well, some but
very small). Be free, write and let it take you anywhere.
needs to go
Nothing you or I write will ever be lost. fight for you
The writer’s life is worth the battle. especially don’t let
anyone should be on you.
(c) Copyright Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.
