speak softly….

I first became aware of The Debutante Ball when fellow writers Gail Konop Baker and Kristina Riggle introduced me to the site.  Both Gail and Kris were in the process of publishing their first books (Cancer Is A Bitch and Real Life and Liars, respectively) and on The Debutante Ball they mused on the internal and external processes that take place in the months before their books were published.  The insights were fascinating, and just the kind of details a writer craves when she herself is the midst of writing:  what will it be like, what will it look like, what does it feel like?

I have mentioned before that in my grad school days we never discussed process.  It was a dirty little word that appeared not once at the workshop table.  Instead, we showed up with our stories as if the Muse had handed them to us on the way in, complete, typed up, polished with finesse.

As a teacher, I committed myself to demystifying process at every turn.  My students often weren’t comfortable.  They squirmed when I talked about emotions, or writer’s block, or “stealing” (as I like to call it) style or structure from a writer they loved.  I talked about my “crutches” and my flops.  I referred to craft as my “bag of tricks.”  I made them understand the power of revision.  And I just kept talking to them about process:  when were their best writing times, where did inspiration come from, did they keep a journal or carry around a notebook?  My Muse didn’t wear a flowing white gown and pearls of wisdom did not fall from her lips like pure nectar.  Instead, she wore torn yoga pants and a talismanic hooded sweatshirt and sometimes she didn’t change or shower.

Today, the process of process continues, and I have the pleasure of finding myself on The Debutante Ball, musing about fall, and rhythms and routine.  I want to thank Alicia Bessette and all the folks at the Ball for asking me to guest post there, and more importantly, engaging the discussion about writing in such meaningful ways.  Go on over, read, and comment.