Writing is a complex and slow process for some people; fast, easy, and A to B for others. Either way, writing is time-consuming and yet the most rewarding adventure I have ever set out to tackle. You may have noted that I am an interior designer, a fun and rewarding profession, working with clients; however, writing a book is a solitary accomplishment, with nobody to push the pencil but you until you get to the editing phase, and that’s when you call upon the village.

Please remember that no matter what an editor suggests, you have control of the reins. You set the tone for the stage, you write dialog as you hear your characters say it, and you decide where the commas go. Does the character say, “No I don’t, Ella,†or “No, I don’t, Ella.†You decide. I decide. I know how my characters speak, and I know the rhythm I want to set for my readers. Setting the rhythm is essential to the entertainment of the reader.

So much to tell you; where should I start? Let’s say you feel there is a book inside you; that’s what I had said on occasion over a span of many years. When I began my lineage research, I found myself thinking about relatives I had known, now passed, and I loved reflecting on fond memories of them. That got me started writing, and trust me, my first attempts were stinky; however, there is nothing better than giving it the old college try and persisting, for persistence allows the universe to step in and give you what you need.

When your mind is quiet, such as when you are brushing your teeth, taking a shower, or just starting to drive the car down the road, your brain is running on automatic. Essentially, you are performing acts you could do with your eyes closed, which is when ideas and information will drop in. Names you believe you have long forgotten will drop into the creative side of your brain. If you are doing math problems, forget it; the process doesn’t work. That is using your analytical side of the brain. Stop whatever you are doing and write down what just came to mind. You must do this; trust me, if you don’t, you will most likely be unable to recall later.

Both sides of your brain do not function well at the same time; never. I discovered this when working on a paint color scheme for a client years ago. I tried to choose the colors and figure out the application simultaneously, but I couldn’t. I realized my mistake, trying to make my brain perform two different functions in unison; creative and analytical. It was a revelation. Once I decided where the color would flow on the walls, begin and end, only then could I quickly switch to the creative side of my brain and choose the paint colors. Voila! It’s the same principle in writing.

Let me step back for a moment. May I suggest you use pencil and paper, not the keyboard, to begin your writing career? Typing is a mechanical process; it is best not to engage the side of your brain that tells your finger where the “T†is on the keyboard. Scribble notes; make lists about what you want to write about, 2, 3, or 4 words, to jog your memory and remind you of details.

When writing about your past experiences, all the details may not surface at once, but rest assured they are locked in millions of tiny file drawers buried in your memory bank. Keep asking yourself, what was the name of that town? Who was that man who arrived late for dinner? What is the name of the older woman I met at the store? I’m telling you to be patient; I have been there. Here’s the proof that it works.

When I was about eight or nine, my grandparents took my sister and me to an old farmhouse in Beulah, Michigan, cherry orchard country, for a long weekend. Grandmother said a relative owned it and rented it to family members to help pay the mortgage. When I asked which relative, she told me their names, people I had never heard of.

Fast forward 60 years, I remembered the farmhouse, the player piano in the living room, and the sound of mice scurrying in the basement at night. I could envision the steep hill behind the house and the cherry orchards just beyond, but I couldn’t recall the homeowner’s names. With my grandmother long dead, I called my mother, but she was no help. I couldn’t put it aside. I kept asking myself, who owned that farmhouse?

Six months later, while walking through my house, the name May popped into my head, and two weeks later, Frank and May Lester. You see, it was always there. I only had to keep asking myself the question and be patient. It took months for that tiny file drawer to reach the top of the heap and open up so my brain could read the note inside. You will be amazed by what you can remember and how much it will lend to your writing.

Well, I could go on, but perhaps it’s best to end here. I’ll be back soon to chat with you more about the beautiful, rewarding subject of writing.

Until later,
Deborah