My Writing Process

In my approach to writing this book, I had a laser-like focus on getting all the facts, dates, and places down on paper. Honestly, it became more of a purge rather than what I would call a cohesive story.

Having thought about writing this book for some time - when I did start writing it - it became an obsession. It wasn't uncommon for me to write 4-5000 words in one session. I had one focus - just get it done!  It was very linear and sequential.  This happened and then that happened - very structured and precise. Only one problem - it was boring and, for the most part - uninteresting. It read like a technical manual, not a story.

This is where having some writing peers to bounce some ideas off of became very useful. When I joined a writing group, I had no idea what to expect, but the one thing I knew going in was that I knew nothing about writing a book. Having a little humility made me open to new ideas and new ways of thinking about my story.

The writing class that I signed up for was entitled "How To Write Your Life Story." It changed the focus of what I was writing.  I still recall many of the questions that we were asked to write about.  Many questions that I thought were interesting - but unrelated to the subject matter of my book - or so I thought.

Many questions explored many mundane aspects of my life. Who was the Prime Minister when you were born? Who was your first-grade teacher - did you like them? Your favourite dessert?

A Work in Progress

I likely wrote 15 - 20,000 words that were random thoughts about a variety of topics—some related to the book - some not. I learned a lot about writing through this process. I had written about several anecdotal experiences - they were entertaining - but they did not help tell the story. I painfully removed some of these passages. Gone - but not forgotten. They are neatly stored away - and perhaps someday they will be infused into a new project. 

As I completed my first draft, some themes were beginning to come to the forefront that I had never imagined I would ever write. It was an exciting evolution. Once I had a raw draft, I started moving the pieces of the story around - like chess pieces on the board. A few pieces fell off. Several had to be expanded upon - having complete control of the story with a considerable sense of authority. I suppose that was very satisfying for my inner control freak.

I also learned a lot about language. How wan well-chosen word can make such a huge difference. A skilled writer can use language in such a meaningful way that it could make paint drying a fascinating topic. I certainly don't consider myself in that category - but I'm working on it.

In retrospect, much of the planning and assumptions I made about how to tell our story changed dramatically. The changes brought about considerable editing - and rewrites.  At times it seemed like I was moving backward, but this was all part of the learning process for me. Something I had to go through to understand how I wanted the story to unfold. If I ever tackle a second book - my approach will be entirely different - but I still think this was the right process for me for my first attempt at a book. Some lessons just have to be learned the hard way.

My advice - to anyone who is thinking of writing a book or any other kind of writing project is - just do it. Write things you feel passionate about or things that make you feel good. Just write.  There are so many avenues available, and if you want people to see your writing, there are blogs and other online means as ways of getting feedback. Some of your writing will resonate with people, and some will not. That's all part of the learning process.

You have to remember that the only audience that really matters is you.