Letter from PattiMy dream or purpose in writing has floated through my mind since I was able to put crayon to paper. As I was not blessed with the gift of drawing or sketching (when I draw, everybody looks like a potato), I tried, like an artist with charcoal or pastels, to paint my own world in story. Words are, for me, oil paint, charcoal, camera and sketch pads combined.
I find the power of story in the underlying themes and messages, not only in the individual stories of our lives, but in myth and fiction.
But at one time this was not concrete enough for a girl, then woman who needed something to show for her success. So I pursued the more visible academics and writing changed from an art I could create, to only an art I could admire. I pursued my nursing degree, then Master's degree with the fervor of proving my own worth in diplomas and visible proof of success.
Then, finally, the power of story became the power of my own story. You see, I had a box full of stories, poems and unfinished novels from the age of twelve. Included in this box was my pre-teen autobiography (I assume I deemed my life worthy of one at the time). In college, after I received my first creative writing paper full of red marks and comments (faulty exposition and intense grammatical errors), I put all my writing into a container with the paraphernalia of youth. I stored my writing with my yearbooks, diaries, old photos, ticket stubs and swim team ribbons — then labeled the box both emotionally and literally "Nostalgic Things of the Past".
Through the years of college (Auburn University — War Eagle), Graduate School (Pediatric Nursing), marriage, and three gorgeous (objective, you say?) children in five years, this box and its writings would come to me in small nudging, a melancholy passing of memory. I would take out my poems, stories and photographs and look at them for what I had labeled them: The Past. I regarded it all with sweet memory and put the old writings back in their proper location.
As the years went by the whisper of my heart to write became harder, louder and more insistent until I finally decided that the only way to really shut it up was to just write the one book. Write the one good book and be done with it. Then my heart would be quiet and I could get on with my life. Now, how hard could that be? Well, as Gene Fowler said, "Writing is easy. All you do is stare at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead." That about sums it up.
My daughter, seven years old at the time, sat on my lap. I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. She told me she wanted to be a 'writer of books, really good books." I told her, "No, that's what I want to be when I grow up." But, she insisted, "You're already grown up." Already grown up? I can't dream of becoming a writer. No, Patti, a voice insisted, you can't dream of becoming one — you are one.
Me? Yes, you.
Okay, then, let's write. So, I started the book, threw it away. I read a book on writing novels, and then read another four of them. I bought a magazine on writers and started again. I found my reasons, my excuses to not really write, but still pursue it. I would read about, it, research it (that's what you do with all good disciplines, right?). I wasn't really going to write a book without all this information. So, what now?
A class, sure a class would be good. I went to Emory University and took a couple classes on fiction writing. My fears wove their way around my heart. Then I read Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, and Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird and I kept on writing. I took it slowly but never stopped. There are always reasons to stop and there are always excuses, but writing is a communication with an art and a craft. It is a never ending journey learning the finer points of story and technique. Writing shines a light onto or into your life — and not just where you want it to. In this section I have made a list of my favorite books about writing (okay, so a couple of them are just about life in general, but that affects writing).
There are a couple of articles I have written about how writing as a practice is a teacher for our life. I hope to add to these articles every few months, so please check back.
I would love to hear from you and I hope you enjoy my stories and the journey into the deeper places of your heart that fiction can take you.
The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity. Julia Cameron. Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam Publisher. (Okay, what would we do without this book?)
- The Screwtape Letters. C.S. Lewis. (The most intriguing book on human character — perfect for delving into the psyche of your characters). Or you could just read anything ever written by C.S. Lewis and be inspired.
- Walking on Water: Reflections of Faith and Art. Madeleine L'Engle. (This is an amazing book and should be required reading before sitting down to write)
- The Elements of Style: William Strunk, Jr, and E.B. White. (Get it, use it, know it — and that's all there is to say about that).
- The Breakout Novel. Donald Maass.
- The Right to Write, Julia Cameron (This is the very first book I bought on writing and I found myself crying through most of it).
- On Writing, Stephen King. (No, there is no horror in here — just amazing advice on the art and craft of commercial fiction).
- So You Want To Write, Brenda Ueland.
- Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott. (Inspiring, amazing and full of honest advice about the life of writing).
- The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers. (All about characters and the mythic journey—invaluable in both plot and character development).
- Escaping into the Open, Elizabeth Berg.
- Self—Editing for the Fiction Writers, Renni Browne and Dave King (invaluable when editing your finished manuscript).
- For Writers Only – Sophy Burnham
- Writing from the Inside Out – Dennis Palumbo
- Page After Page – Heather Sellers
Fun Facts with PCH
Favorite song to listen to? Whenever You Come Around – Vince Gill
Movie you could watch over and over? – When Harry met Sally OR Braveheart
Most interesting novel you’ve read? The Narnia Chronicles
Teenage celebrity crush when you were growing up? John Travolta (okay, so I’m old)
I love to eat? Chocolate of any kind
My pet peeve is? Atlanta traffic
The best quality in a person is? Gentle Spirit
Favorite Music:
If I could have anything in the world, it would be? Perfect health for my children as they pursue their true gifts. And a house on the beach with a huge front porch.
