Strolling through the blogosphere with crazy, big-thighed and techie women
May 19, 2014
I’ve been helping a newer writer flesh out an essay idea and as I tried to help him figure out how to approach a new version it occurred to me how little I’ve examined how I go about doing what I do. In fact, it never occurred to me to even consider it. So when Barbara Wilson Shallue over at Long Hollow blog asked me to participate in an online blog stroll, it was an opportunity for self-reflection. Barbara and I met in an online group of writers and I quickly grew to enjoy her posts and her writing. You might, also.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to wax long about my writing process. Like my blog posts, I get right to the point here!
What am I working on?
I’m an essayist and blogger, so I always have an essay or blog post in progress. Right now I’m working on a collection of essays about my life, culminating in my reconciliation with my husband after being divorced for 26 years: how it came about (not a reunion, not Facebook) and those intervening years. And then there are essays that just pop into my head and I simply have to write them. Once in a while I’ll see a call for submissions for an anthology and write to order, or find something in my extensive inventory that can be tweaked for the topic. My essay “50 Ways I Love His Mother” appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Just Us Gals last November. Another, called “My Father’s Desk,” appears next week in the brand new Chicken Soup for the Soul: Home Sweet Home. A tougher essay, “Secrets and Lies,” will appear next year in a new anthology I’m excited to read. It’ll be called Dumped: Women Unfriending Women.
How does my work differ from others of its genre?
My voice is unique but I’m not sure I can explain how. The other day a reader said this about it:
I love your daily posts. They are short and sweet. Like a quick conversation with a friend every morning.
That was such a high compliment, because it tells me I talk to my readers in a voice they can relate to. I observe and experience life at the same time and my blog reflects that dichotomy. Sometimes effectively and sometimes, not so much. 😉
Why do I write/create what I do?
Because I must. As a corporate writer my work was structured and topics were utilitarian. Now that it’s all self expression, it’s me and my brain. Sometimes I can’t sleep until I get something out. Like last night. I got up at 2am and wrote three sentences for an essay I’m pondering. I write because I have to and the topics just occur to me. Maybe I’ve read or heard or discussed something that sticks—I don’t dig too deeply. I just write. I’d like to describe some kind of rationale, but the work just forces itself out.
How does your writing/creating process work?
It’s funny — I’ve never thought of it as a “writing process” because I’ve always done it, since childhood. I sit down at a keyboard and words come out. Every morning, every day. There’s no magic to it. Or rather, it’s all magic, because there’s no “process” at all. Brain to fingers to keyboard to screen. Keyboards make writing a lot faster than when my medium was a yellow lined pad. Remember those days? Or when we had beautiful composition journals and diaries? I own the one up top of this post and I love it–but my fingers tire easily with a pen, now that I’m accustomed to the speed with which my fingers can express on a screen what my brain’s saying. Right now, my collection of beautiful journals and composition books sits blank and empty, waiting for me to do something with them.
The beautiful thing about the Blogosphere is that I’ve gotten to meet some creative thinkers and excellent writers and I’ve learned about ways of life I could only imagine. Here are three interesting bloggers I’d like to introduce you to:
Chloe’s a blogger who rushes in where angels fear to tread
We bloggers who lay it all out there raw and unvarnished are either brave or crazy. Since I’m also crazy (but in a different way) we connect. Her honest blog and strong writing skills keep me hooked. That, and we’ve had a really great time at lunch together in real life.
Here’s her bio:
Chloe Jeffreys is a Registered Nurse by day and a blogger whenever the mood strikes her. Gifted with an almost magical ability to push people’s buttons, Chloe shares her insouciant wit and penetrating personal insights at Chloe of the Mountain. Check it out!
Bonnie’s a brand new online friend and if you’re a blogger, she should be yours, too
Bonnie’s expanding our knowledge base about the business of blogging and that’s something many of us could use. Bonnie Frank (a.k.a. LadyBlogger) is a former elementary/middle school teacher and college professor with a Master’s Degree in Education and loads of teaching experience. She’s also the mom of two teenage boys (this means she can survive anything) and wife to a man she’s been with for over 30 years. She says LadyBlogger’s target audience is intelligent people (over 80% are women) who want to know more about parenting, education, kids and the business of blogging. If you’re a female blogger serious about it, you want to follow LadyBlogger
Especially when written by a professional writer who began as a newspaper reporter after graduating from one of the best journalism schools in the country. Her Royal Thighness is Everywoman ─ a middle-aged, weight-challenged, chocolate cake-loving semi-professional dieter with a passion for musical theater. Her blog is the official beginning of a pursuit of her dream to follow in the footsteps of humor-writing legends like Erma Bombeck and Nora Ephron and humor-performing legends like Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. I’d say she’s made a great start!
So there you have it. Check their blogs out and be sure to click over next Monday, when they’ll answer these questions, too.
I was , in fact, just thinking about you last night. How you get these blogs out everyday, so (seemingly) effortlessly. I would fret and re-write and misspell and waver. But you? You produce everyday. Its impressive.But mostly, I love to know I have sometime good to read every mooring and someone to share my thoughts with . So thank you. I am so glad lisa introduced us!
“Brain to fingers to keyboard to screen.” Yep, that’s pretty much much my process too. Sometimes I”ll let things percolate, but most of the time, I just sit and the computer like a mull and get to plow’in. Thanks for sharing!
What a great description of your writing! I did one of these recently and it really makes you sit back and take stock of where you want your writing to go. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this post – very helpful for me as a new blogger. My process is sort of all over the place, and I’m working on refining. Have a great Monday!
Carol, love this…especially the part about not knowing what you’re thinking until you write it. BTW, I have the same notebook…and several Brian Andreas pieces (in your bio). Thanks for your continued support…and your continued craft!
This was fun to get to know you a bit better, Carol! I love what you say about writing. Basically, “I write because I am” is what all of us are saying in our writing process tour!
I love your writing and always enjoy your posts. I wish writing blog posts came easier for me. I’m so up in my head with characters and stories I find it difficult to come up with interesting real life topics. Mostly I’m just in my office stuck to my computer! Lol. Thanks for the post!
“Now that it’s all self expression, it’s me and my brain. ” Your statement that you write because you must resonated most. For me, and for many writers, the quality of thinking and of writing are mutually dependent.
I never realized how much you can learn about someone when they let you behind the scenes of their thought process. I guess I’m going to have to give some thought to mine.
First of all, congrats on being a part of the Chicken Soup books! That’s awesome! And your blog picks are fantastic. Chloe and Parri are two of my absolute favorites.
Linda, if I see your post title one more time I am going to lose my breath from laughing! I actually described your post to my husband last night and he guffawed, too!
I’m just so impressed that you manage to write a post every single day. And, you have a very consistent voice. I enjoy your writing and your posts. Congratulations on the publication in the Chicken soup books, too!
I connect with so much of what you wrote! My blank books are virtually ignored cuz I’m always blogging or Facebooking. I am never at a loss as to what to write about. And my quick posts are usually as lengthy as my involved posts. *giggle* I look forward to reading more of your blog nice to “meet you, Carol. 🙂
You are an amazingly consistent writer. I don’t know how you do it. Something called discipline, I guess. I’ve read about that before. Like in a book or something.
Here you’ll find my blog, some of my essays, published writing, and my solo performances. There’s also a link to my Etsy shop for healing and grief tools offered through A Healing Spirit.
I love comments, so if something resonates with you in any way, don’t hesitate to leave a comment on my blog. Thank you for stopping by–oh, and why not subscribe so you don’t miss a single post?
I was , in fact, just thinking about you last night. How you get these blogs out everyday, so (seemingly) effortlessly. I would fret and re-write and misspell and waver. But you? You produce everyday. Its impressive.But mostly, I love to know I have sometime good to read every mooring and someone to share my thoughts with . So thank you. I am so glad lisa introduced us!
Me, too! I am hoping one day we can sit down over a coffee together face to face!
“Brain to fingers to keyboard to screen.” Yep, that’s pretty much much my process too. Sometimes I”ll let things percolate, but most of the time, I just sit and the computer like a mull and get to plow’in. Thanks for sharing!
The flow is the thing, right?
What a great description of your writing! I did one of these recently and it really makes you sit back and take stock of where you want your writing to go. Thanks for sharing!
I always say to my husband that your blog brings back my father in such a big way…sad, but reminders. I’m glad to know you.
Love this! Your incredible expertise is so helpful. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Not so sure how wise I am, but I do like to share!
Thank you for this post – very helpful for me as a new blogger. My process is sort of all over the place, and I’m working on refining. Have a great Monday!
I’m a big believer in just going with the flow. Any time I work too hard at it I fail. 😉
Carol, love this…especially the part about not knowing what you’re thinking until you write it. BTW, I have the same notebook…and several Brian Andreas pieces (in your bio). Thanks for your continued support…and your continued craft!
Thanks, Kim! I’m enjoying getting to know you!
This was fun to get to know you a bit better, Carol! I love what you say about writing. Basically, “I write because I am” is what all of us are saying in our writing process tour!
I love your writing and always enjoy your posts. I wish writing blog posts came easier for me. I’m so up in my head with characters and stories I find it difficult to come up with interesting real life topics. Mostly I’m just in my office stuck to my computer! Lol. Thanks for the post!
Sometimes short is sweetest and most powerful!
I agree. Wholeheartedly.
“Now that it’s all self expression, it’s me and my brain. ” Your statement that you write because you must resonated most. For me, and for many writers, the quality of thinking and of writing are mutually dependent.
Yes, yes, yes.
I never realized how much you can learn about someone when they let you behind the scenes of their thought process. I guess I’m going to have to give some thought to mine.
Don’t think too hard, you could overthink it! That’s always my danger. So I just don’t. LOL
First of all, congrats on being a part of the Chicken Soup books! That’s awesome! And your blog picks are fantastic. Chloe and Parri are two of my absolute favorites.
Linda, if I see your post title one more time I am going to lose my breath from laughing! I actually described your post to my husband last night and he guffawed, too!
I know for one that I’ll never be able to hear that song again without envisioning Linda’s derriere.
I’m just so impressed that you manage to write a post every single day. And, you have a very consistent voice. I enjoy your writing and your posts. Congratulations on the publication in the Chicken soup books, too!
Claudia, thanks so much! For everything!
I’m so glad you continued the blog stroll! I loved reading about your why’s and how’s, and look forward to checking out the bloggers you’ve tagged.
You do make this look effortless, Carol. It’s nice to peek into your ways!
Thanks for the recommendations on these bloggers.
I connect with so much of what you wrote! My blank books are virtually ignored cuz I’m always blogging or Facebooking. I am never at a loss as to what to write about. And my quick posts are usually as lengthy as my involved posts. *giggle* I look forward to reading more of your blog nice to “meet you, Carol. 🙂
Oh, my! I’ve never really thought about the process of doing what I do. Hmmm . . . you’ve given me much food for thought! 🙂
You are an amazingly consistent writer. I don’t know how you do it. Something called discipline, I guess. I’ve read about that before. Like in a book or something.