Tuesday, I was going through my daughter’s weekly folder of graded school papers–parents are supposed to review the papers, help the kids with any problem areas, and sign that the folder has been checked.
Everything looked great until I saw a writing project paper that stopped my quick flipping through the pages. There were red marks all over it, which was unusual. And my daughter’s writing looked different.
She ordinarily has a fun, and breezy writing voice. This writing was stilted and forced.
Even her handwriting looked different. It was very formal and stiff. There were perfectly-formed letters as if she’d tried to do calligraphy instead of the messier writing I see when she’s in the flow and is trying to put her ideas down on paper.
What on earth had happened?
I really didn’t want to approach her in a critical way (especially with this particular subject and coming from me), so I was just clearing my throat and figuring out what to say when she saw me holding her paper and burst into tears. Which was the last thing I wanted, of course.
They’d started a new creative writing program and the grading was going to be very strict, she said. She pointed out the rubric grid that was stapled to the back of the paper. The rubric was detailed, with four sections detailing what the paper would be graded on… from mechanics, to content, to neatness.
And she’d totally freaked out.
Honestly, it really had little to do with the assignment and a lot to do with her. I’m just completely delighted to see creative writing taught in public school at all, honestly. And it is time to really focus on getting the mechanics perfected….she’s nine years old.
For her, though, it messed her up to look at this rubric while she was writing. When I suggested that , in future, she make a rough draft first and then make corrections in the second draft, she was all smiles.
Apparently, she’s her mother’s child. :) It makes me freeze when I think too much about the mechanics of my writing while I’m being creative.
For other writers, it’s completely the opposite. Seeing all the typos and other mistakes in the first draft distracts some writers so much that they can’t move forward until the mistakes are corrected first.
There’s really so much advice out there on writing. Much of it is contradictory because it’s what works for that particular writer—and each writer is different.
I wish there was a faster way to know what works as a writer, but I know it took me ages to figure out if I was an outliner or a pantster, if I could research as I wrote or if I needed to wait, or if I should edit as I wrote or at the end.
I tried each method and just paid attention if it was a struggle or not. I noted if I stalled when it was time to write or if my writing was really unnatural and stilted—and then I tried something else.
I’m always looking for ways to be a better writer. And I think I’m still looking for ways to have a better writing process. I probably just need to stick with what works and leave it alone. :)
Have you learned what trips you up as a writer? And what works for you?
What trips me up is having a character pop into the story when I hadn’t planned on him. Why didn’t he let me know he was coming?
I’ve tried hard to be a pantster but I can’t do it. I have to have a guest list of characters and know them pretty well before I invite them to my book.
I love your blog!
That would definitely trip me up as a writer. You’re poor daughter! Though I’m an outliner I don’t think about the mechanics while I’m writing and I DON’T edit until the first draft is finished. If someone told me I had to edit while I was writing the first draft I’d completely freeze up and never finish! Strange, I know. :)
I believe everyone works in their own way. I have to switch my editing part of the brain off while I’m writing a first draft, otherwise it becomes a tangle and everything seems forced and stilted. I think it’s an ongoing process in which we find new ways that make us a good or better writer.
I’m glad your daughter smiled in the end. :)
I am with your sweet little daughter, If you give me rules and regulations in writing I start freaking out followed by a lot of sweating. I feel like I’m in a box.
This is probably why I haven’t been published much lately. :(
T
Elizabeth – What I think is really interesting is that what trips some people up is exactly what other people need. Some of my students love and depend on rubrics; others have the same reaction your daughter did.
As a writer, I get tripped up by paying too much attention (at least at first) to finer details like word count, etc.. I have had to teach myself to wait on those things until my story is told. They come later.
“There’s really so much advice out there on writing. Much of it is contradictory because it’s what works for that particular writer—and each writer is different.”
This is so true. I’m still learning what works best for me after trying a lot of different ways. I think I may have finally found it.
I’m still experimenting and probably always will, even with genre. You’ve made a great point here, though…we each need to find and do it our own way.
When I wrote my first book I had no idea what I was doing. I just wanted to write a story. I pantsed along, did some editing along the way, revised as well and at the end I was satisfied.
On book two, I wrote the whole thing in draft, never looked at the previous pages, just kept moving forward. When the book was finished and time to revise, I’d realized what a monumental error I’d made. The task to revise and edit seemed daunting. I hated it.
Now on my third book, I’ve found I enjoy the write, edit, revise scenario so much better. I feel better about my writing and I’m much happier with the outcome.
OMG, I’m totally there with you. If I think about all the little rules during a first draft, I stall and my words come out stilted. For me, first drafts are for ignoring the rules and just writing. It can all be fixed later – once the story is out.
Everyone’s writing process is different and there really is no one right way to write for all people. Yay for giving that advice to your daughter. =o)
Heather–I think I’d be the same way. It’d be sort of like those timed math tests I used to take in school–I’d freeze up and watch the big clock on the wall while timng just ticked away. (No, math wasn’t my subject…) :)
A Certain Book–It’s definitely an ongoing process. :) And thanks..I was glad to see her smile, too. Crying about writing isn’t a good thing!
Travelin’Oma–Thanks so much! I love the way you’ve worded that–that you get to know the characters before you write them in the book. Nice approach!
Teresa–Ha! Yes, so many rules in publishing. I think, for me, it was better when I wrote the book I wanted to write…then looked at it to see what tweaks it needed to fit the publishers’ needs.
Margot–Word count is another tricky area. That messed me up really badly at one point. Now, my stories are all pretty much the same length and I’ve got a more natural feel for the word count and the pacing in that count.
Anne–I think it’s great that you fell into a rhythm with it and found out what worked for you! It takes time, sometimes, doesn’t it? I must have tried twenty different methods for writing a book–different types of outlines, different types of approaches to the story. It took me a while.
B.E. Sanderson–I try to pretend, when I’m writing, that my editor and agent won’t even see it. Even *thinking* about them messes me up! (I’m totally neurotic, I think.) But I *can* think about the readers. I guess because most of them don’t have a red pen in hand. :)
Carol–That’s the thing…we just sort of have to stumble around until we find what works for us. :)
My motto is: Writer: Know Thyself and What Worketh for Thee. It Needeth not Work for Others, if it Letteth Thee get the *##@@ Words on the Page.
I don’t think I’ll ever quit learning. Right now, I’m learning that I need to spend more time planning before I begin writing. That would save me considerable time.
You are a wise and loving mother.
This is quite typical for my students. They focus so much on the categories of the rubric that they fail to finish their essays and ultimately give up. What I have done is keep the rubric on my SmartBoard instead of handing them a copy. Like you, I always give them a chance (or two) to make corrections and resubmit.
Happy that you provided a different approach for your daughter. :D
I’m still experimenting, too. I do know, however, that if I edit as I go, I don’t move forward.
If I worried about the little mistakes the first time through, I’d never write anything!
Helen–Sometimes the planning really can save time later. And…thanks!
Chary–I like the idea of the rubric being on the Smartboard.That way it’s just not right in front of them…if they don’t want it to be. :)
Jane–That’s the way it is for me, too.
Patricia –It’s too hard to do it a way that’s not comfortable for us.
Diane–Me either!
Elspeth–Ha! Love it. :) It’s definitely all about the $%#$ words!
I’m a perfectionist, so I tend to edit as I go, correcting small mistakes. Of course, my hunt & peck tying really trips me up sometimes!
OVERTHINKING IT! I see these super-organized people talke about star configurations and beats and ARCs. I CANNOT think that much. I’d be a wreck. I instinctively write my story a little like life… it may be suspense, but there are relationships (parental, romantic, friendships), there are side problems… there is psychology and hopefully some personal growth… but MAN, I completely couldn’t write if I was thinking on that micro level. (in fact honestly, I probably will never publish in a genre that requires that at the EDITING level.
My daughter is starting a high school creative writing class on Monday–it will be interesting to see if she wants my input–she writes beautifully, but is VERY resistent to the idea of editing (whcih I was too, until about 3 years ago, and only feel like I am NOW mastering)
I started a manuscript while we were in the process of moving–mostly because I was bored. Because of cramped quarters, I didn’t get out my tracking board. And then I was too far into the work to want to go back and recreate one.
I think each book has been done differently. There’s no reason to think you have to find THE method, and even if you do, what works for one book might not work for the next.
Terry
Terry’s Place
Romance with a Twist–of Mystery
Alex–You should try one of those online typing courses (although, as I’m saying this, I know that none of us has that kind of time!) But it would really make things easier, in the long run.
Hart–I can’t think that hard, either! Ha! If I overthink it, I make the writing much harder than it should be. Hope your daughter’s class goes well! I feel for her…I didn’t use to like editing either.
Terry–I like the idea that different things might work for different books…and if our usual method isn’t working for a particular project, we could try another approach.