Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Focus: Cultivating the Message Within

by Laurie Epps

You have a deadline, you have to turn something in to your boss or professor and you're running out of time. 

What do you do? How do you fight with the blankness in the recesses of your mind? You can't think.... You have no ideas, or too many ideas. Mentally you are swimming, but the deadline is there. That looming deadline is staring you in the face, and sticking it's tongue out at you.



Everyone has a different answer to this problem. Identifying your problem is key. Do you need to refine your idea, or come up with one to begin with? However, the best answer from both problems came from the same book for me. I will share with you the main quote that has walked me through the gauntlet of writing dilemma's.

“Writing is thinking on paper”― William Knowlton Zinsser


I know this sounds simple, and at times it is excruciating. Sometimes you're so panicked that you can't get anything down, or you're simply pulled in so many directions you don't know what end is up. 
I know, all writers have been there. 

But frankly put, you won't know where your pitfalls are if you don't have something concrete to work with. If you can see what you have visually, then you have some chance of organizing it, cultivating it, and growing it up to be a proud representation of your work.
The two main problems are mental block and lack of focus.

1. Mental Block. We've all been there—staring at a blank piece of paper or the computer screen and you can't think of anything. You notice everything. That drip of the faucet echoes in your head, the cat digging in its litter box, or even the individual breaths of your child in the other room. It's maddening. This kind of angst is the backdrop of famous literature like in the Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe. But if you aren't to his level of stature as a writer, this is about as much fun as having your teeth extracted. 

Instead of panicking, I'd like you to try a little exercise. Freewriting. Yep, you heard me, actually use a pen and paper. I know, in this day and age the computer seems simpler. But it doesn't connect you to your writing the same way. Write anything that comes into your mind, and do this for 10-20 minutes. For newbies, start with five minutes, and each time you attempt this, build it by five minutes. It's amazing, and it works. As you write, you'll slowly begin to see a pattern in your thoughts. That pattern helps you find what you should write about. It works phenomenally well. Be prepared to impress yourself.


2. Focus. This is one of the biggest challenges I face as a writer. And I can tell you, the same technique of journaling works for this as well. Although in the case of focus, you can utilize your computer as a resource to help you along the way. Thanks to windows you can cut and piece your essay into smaller chunks, but it's wise to find another writer to do help you along with this part of the journey. 

To begin, I work better, and think better with pen and paper. I print off my essay or article. Then I get out a different colored pen. I circle the different themes I notice throughout my essay or article. I give the written work to someone else to do the same. This can either be in a tangible form (paper copy) or virtually as I would for my boss. Let them tell me what they see. Voila! Generally we agree on 2-5 ideas or themes. Brainstorm. Pick one to cultivate more thoroughly and go with it.

Both of these ideas take a lot of patience with yourself, and with your writing. But hang in there, the muse within is dying to come out. 

I've found that journaling works very well for me, and much to the dismay of my movers. But it's a tool that has not only fine tuned my writing, but also my life. Stick with it. I promise it is worth the effort. Now get to your local store to stock up on pens and notebooks, you'll be needing them.

Stay tuned for next week. Join the conversation.


Laurie Epps is a non-fiction author, essayist, and poet living in Anderson, South Carolina. She is the proud mother of three girls, and dreams of seeing the world one day. To read more of Laurie's stories visit her column at:
http://1writerlaurieepps.blogspot.com





10 comments:

  1. I love the William Zinsser quote!

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    1. Hi Mary, It is from the book "On Writing Well" by Wm Zinsser. I have found it to be an easy read as well. Check it out. Blessings, Laurie

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  2. Laurie, your blog was a sign post that I am going in the right direction... I started journaling in January. Thank you.

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    1. Hi Kathryn, It has been a wonderful tool for me. Thank you for the validation. All the best to you.
      Blessings, Laurie

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  3. Working through the brick wall is so important, journaling is a great way to do that!

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    1. Hi Michelle, So true. I always feel validated as a writer once I emerge on the other side of writer's block. I think I learn more about myself as both a person and a writer when I conquer it.
      Blessings, Laurie

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  4. Focus is one of my biggest challenges also and my muse seems to have the same problem. :) I like your journaling tip.

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    1. Dear Kim, My PhD professor says that "not everything you write is any good". He went on to say, that he was taught by Stephen King, and not everything he ever wrote was any good. The most important thing we can do if we've done a lot of writing and we still have no point is to shelf it. Yep. Give it 24 hours, and maybe more. With fresh eyes still see if you think it is worth pursuing. I think sometimes the process can lead us to what we are meant to talk about, so it is all valuable. Just keep writing.
      Blessings,
      Laurie

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  5. No arguments with your good advice. I've got my school marm bun in place and I'm going to sound like a curmudgeon as well. Add to it that you are getting building criticism collecting in my head as I continue to read blogs and articles on the subject of writing to publish. As a former English teacher turned specialized proofreader, I want all electronic venues of writing on writing to hold a tight standard on grammar and spelling. You are one of the bastions! The short: you used an apostrophe for a plural--"dilemma's." Please employ a proofreader. Pay me a pittance and I'll do it for you with quick turnaround (while I'm engaging my WIP). Your advice is too good to be marred by the little things. It's like that commercial interview when the mustard stain on the guy's shirt talks louder than he does. I've said too much.

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    1. Dear Grace, No worries. I take your criticism with the grain of salt. But dually noted, I know my generation was at the forefront of not being taught proper grammar. We also were not taught Geography, though that we can discuss on another day. If you would be so kind as to recommend a valuable grammar book that is simple to read, and not an insult to my intelligence, I promise to give it a whirl.
      Blessings,
      Laurie

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