A few bloggers I follow have already been discussing their New Year’s Resolutions and plans for 2015. I’m not big on resolutions but I sometimes set some goals for the year. I mean naturally I commit every year to losing weight, doing more exercise, earning more money, working less, being less of a bitch and so forth. But, well… I’m talking lofty aspirational stuff.
The Facebook book blogging community in particular has been pondering on plans for 2015. Some are wanting to stretch their reading range, others are participating in challenges. I can’t really commit to reading more cos I already read shit-loads of books and have to force myself to have nights OFF reading so I can catch up on my reviewing. So… I’ve decided perhaps it’s time to think more about my writing. And by that I mean writing OUTSIDE of blogging. Something I’ve oft-considered but never pursued.
I’ve got 30,000 words written of a YA novel about a girl suffering from anorexia nervosa written years ago (via a Year of the Novel course). I’ve got the 50,000 words I wrote in NaNoWriMo this year about a woman convicted of murder but released from prison after a decade, cleared by new evidence, and her subsequent investigation into the crime.
And I have an idea I’ve been pondering for YEARS.
When I lived overseas – in the mid 1990s, before the internet – I became a prolific letter-writer. My parents received almost-weekly letters any many friends were blessed by my whining and bitching witty repartee as well.
My mother saved every single one of those letters I sent home.* So… I have / had this idea of writing about the experience – an enthralling and witty narrative about my life there interspersed with actual excerpts from the letters. I realise it’d be almost a memoir (and everyone knows I HATE non-fiction), but I could embellish it a tad and make it factional (cos my memory from the time is very murky anyway)! But… I can’t think of a plot / story arc, so the story would have nowhere to go.
I travelled to Africa. Thought ‘What the fuck?’ on my arrival and wondered how on earth I’d survive the posting. But, I fell in love with the place and decided I wanted to live there forever. But then I came home. The end.
See… a literary classic?! #not #boringasbatshit
At a recent author event the writer (Inga Simpson) talked about the fact she mentors other writers. I hadn’t really heard of anything like it (in a writing sense), but I was intrigued. When I worked in government I considered participating in a mentoring program but unfortunately there were few (sufficiently) senior women I felt I could approach.
I know I spew overindulgent crap which I send out into the world on a regular basis via this blog, but I’m super nervous about people reading my other writing. As in – NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO READ ANYTHING I WRITE! EVER!
But… perhaps if I was working ‘with’ someone I trusted it might be different. They might give me the encouragement or advice I need to shape my writing and take it in a new direction. Perhaps.
Of course the problem is, while I’m significantly happier since my seachange almost 2.5 years ago, I’m also significantly poorer. I’m not entirely sure I can justify the cost of a writing mentor when I need my spa bath, oven and mobile phone fixed, not to mention a new mattress and new tyres on my car. But still….
Anyone else have any experience with mentors? Writing or otherwise?
* My first letter home from Mozambique was 21 A4 pages long!
As it’s Friday I’m flogging my blog With Some Grace.
December 19, 2014
I’m in awe of the length of your first letter home. 21 pages is huge! I used to write a lot of letters in my distant past but I’d get a bit bored around the third page. You must have had a lot to talk about – and I guess that’s not surprising seeing that you were in a new country meeting new people.
December 19, 2014
Char, the first letter to one of my friends started with…. “What the f*ck was I thinking?!” https://www.debbish.com/other-stuff/the-great-novel-or-memoir-or-something/
December 19, 2014
Your empire sounds great- I’d read it!
December 19, 2014
Memoir, even. If you start an empire, I’d be interested to read about that too, of course!
December 19, 2014
Ohhh, an empire… Now you’ve got me thinking! 😉
December 19, 2014
“Be less of a bitch” hahahaha. I can’t imagine you being a bitch Deb. A mentor would probably be expensive. Do you have a well-read friend you could trust? The book about Africa sounds as if it has GREAT potential. Something will come to you I’m sure. Maybe you could write it through the eyes of a really old you at the end of your life and include a love story in Africa that you’ve regretted didn’t work out all those years ago. Or you can tell me to shut the hell up 😉
December 19, 2014
I did think it could be a death bed thing… Sharing my story with someone who didn’t know I’d lived it. If that makes sense!
December 19, 2014
I love your lofty resolution to be less bitchy- hilarious!
Pretty cool your mum kept the letters. I bet you could come up with some great stories using some ideas from your experiences.
I bought a book when I was traveling, that sounded amazing (well sort of at the time), about this guys experiences during Vietnam War, he had written daily and his parents kept the letters. He published each letter with a running commentary in between each one. He came out as being gay and it sounded like it was going to be really interesting. Turned out to be tremendously boring, with way too many letters detailing what he ate each day and very little drama or conflict. Not that I think your idea would turn out that way at all! The guy also had zero sense of humour.
A mentor sounds great if you can find the right one, I have never had one but a friend of mine at work had one and said it was the best thing ever.
December 19, 2014
I suspect my book would be just as boring: tantrum about no water; salmonella poisoning; diet coke at the international supermarket; people at work faking receipts for their UN donors; salmonella poisoning. Rinse, repeat!
December 19, 2014
I met a fellow “writer” at an author event in Hervey Bay. Of course she is far more advanced than me; but kindly offers advice. I attended Writefest at Bundaberg and found their master class very helpful. I think mentoring is a good idea and I guess if you want professional input then you probably do have to pay for it. Friends and family are not always impartial and you need constructive feedback to help you improve. Of course I have trouble getting past the fact that maybe my writing isn’t as good as I think it is. Your talent maybe already there and a mentor maybe only needed to encourage you
December 19, 2014
Melinda I’m sure my writing isn’t as good as I think / hope and I think that’s what worries me most about sharing it!!! PS. Wondering who the writer is. I’ve met a couple of self-published authors since moving there.
Deb
December 19, 2014
We always had mentors in my teaching job and it was FANTASTIC! So good for motivation and knowledge! I’m all for having mentors!!
December 19, 2014
Oh thanks….
December 19, 2014
Oh my you MUST MUST MUST do this Deb. I feel you need to do this because it will be a way to express so much of who you are and what you’ve seen, done and felt. I’m helping someone with their book right now. Just reading it and giving my opinion so if you need a friend to do this, lips sealed of course, love to help. It might start out as a memoir of letters but could transform into something else. How exciting! I too hate resolutions – BAR HUMBUG! x
December 19, 2014
Thanks Em!
December 21, 2014
Gosh! You’ve been extremely prolific this year!!
I think a mentor is a great idea. I had one when I was in the corporate world and he really helped me to get to that next level of confidence.
It’s been fabulous getting to know you this year, Deb! Look forward to reading more from you in 2015! x
December 22, 2014
Thanks Grace and same to you!!!
Deb
December 21, 2014
Deb, I could just imagine that story, with bits of your letters sprinkled throughout, and I love it!
Maybe, if you can’t justify the cost of a mentor, you could find someone in your community who could help in the same way. It’s amazing who you can connect with, when you put the word out.
I’ve really enjoyed reading your work this year, and hope you have a glorious Christmas xx
December 22, 2014
Thanks so much Lisa and I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and holiday period. Thanks also for your ‘dream’ and ‘zen’ posts this year, I’ve enjoyed them all!
December 21, 2014
I love this post. This is how I feel. I have so many things written – a few children’s book manuscripts, the beginnings of a YA book, a memoir outline (not mine – I haven’t lived enough – but of and for someone I know) and more poems than I could read back to myself in my lifetime – but sharing them? GAH! So scary. A mentor would be wonderful. It’s finding one that you trust and feel comfortable with that I imagine would be tricky. Good luck. x
December 22, 2014
Ah yes exactly. I’m not sure if it would have to be someone with publishing experience to offer that viewpoint. Obviously you’d want to feel comfortable with them but you’d also want to have someone with the right skill set I assume?!
December 21, 2014
I heard Maria Popova from Brain Pickings talk on a panel at the Melbourne Writers Festival this year and she was talking about how, the older she gets, the more non fiction she reads. Apparently is a researched conclusion – people read more non fiction as they get older. So maybe you’re just hanging around with too many young people:) I think you should definitely go ahead and write your memoirs!
December 22, 2014
Thanks Bec… and Maria’s suggestion re age and non fiction is an interesting one! I wonder if that’s commonly the case?!
December 22, 2014
I think it’s a wonderful idea, even if you don’t publish you’ll have stretched yourself and that can only be good. I was going to suggest friends who can beta read for you and give you constructive criticism, but Emily got in before me.
December 22, 2014
Thanks Suzie – I think I’ve put aside the beta readers / writing group idea cos of the confidence thing – showing TOO many people what I’ve written, rather than getting feedback from someone objective first and then perhaps sharing more broadly. I like to think that if everything I write is crap I’ll find that out earlier rather than later.
December 22, 2014
I’ve never heard of a writing mentor but it sounds good. Anything that encourages you to be better has to be right?
I want to stretch myself more with writing next year. I’m tired of being scared all the time.
December 23, 2014
Oh yes Jess I can completely relate!
December 29, 2014
Wow! It is wonderful that your mom saved all those letters. I think that would make a fantastic memoir — I would read it. With a memoir (versus straight non-fiction), you have some latitude to fictionalize a little bit. 🙂 Plus you could turn it into a novel if it seems to be leaning that way. The possibilities are endless. 😉
I don’t have any experience with writing mentors, but I like the idea. For one thing, most of us could use some external motivation to stay on track with our writing. You might also consider looking for/starting a writer’s group — other writers to keep you accountable and give you a safe place to share your work with people … that is tough!
Do you have plans to publish your YA novel or your crime novel? They both sound quite good.
December 29, 2014
Irene, I think finishing the YA / crime novels will be my goal for now. The former has been languishing for a few years. Publishing would – naturally – be a dream, but I’m not sure I see it as enough of a likelihood to motivate me to finish either (or start the other!).
Deb