For a couple of weeks, I've been teaching poetry to my students. I wrote a poem for them as an example, and realized how powerful a writing exercise it was. I've found it a good way to challenge myself to make more of an impact with fewer words. So without further ado, here is the poem I wrote this week!
Dreaming by J. Ross
2/2019
Dreaming.
Dreaming that dream that seems just out of reach.
Dreaming of the strength to let others see,
to reveal the innermost parts of me that make me want to scream.
Hoping.
Hoping that this dream is not a fantasy, a way to pass my time instead of living in reality.
Hoping to find validity in my own ability.
Hoping that this drive,
this passion will not take me down a road that will destroy me.
Praying.
Praying that I press on.
Praying that I don't lose the love for my craft while waiting.
Praying for the strength to keep writing,
even though nothing seems to be happening.
Working.
Working through boredom, through frustration, through anger.
Working to improve and be brave enough to leave compliments, my shelter.
Working so that one day I can move from praying, and hoping, and dreaming
to living.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Monday, February 11, 2019
Milestones
I realized something today.
I've been spending so much time looking forward and pressing on to that mark of producing the best novel that I possibly could that I forgot about celebrating how far I've come. So this post is dedicated to the milestones that mark my growth in my writing career.
2001.
With the help of my dad to learn how to use Microsoft Word, I wrote my first short story. Was it good? Abso-positively-not. Whereas now many of my stories are inspired by dreams I've had, my first story was a straight transcription of a dream with no creative extension. I still have it saved on my computer for sentimental reasons, but otherwise it will never again see the light of day if I have anything to do with it. But this first story led to another, and another, until I had nearly a hundred partially completed manuscripts on my computer. Were any of them good? Again, no. But this early passion for writing soon helped me to develop the perseverance to complete a manuscript.
2009.
The year I finished a manuscript (which later became General Leila - more on that in a minute) and the year I started college. By this point I'd written a couple story series (one of my writing role models was Christian author Frank Peretti, who had several book series that I loved) and a couple of manuscripts. These also will only ever be seen by my siblings, who were my first beta readers. But Leila was huge for me. I discovered my love of creating elaborate twists and subplots within a story, mysteries that the reader would be dying to uncover. But then college started, and I found that I had neither the time nor the brainpower to work on anything else. I would get ideas and manage a few feeble lines, but I had not yet developed my "beginning of the story" skills and would soon get discouraged when things didn't immediately take off; besides, I had homework to do. It wasn't until seven years later (don't judge me) when I got my master's degree that I was really able to commit to writing again like I really wanted to.
2017.
Two big things happened this year. First, I decided to revisit General Leila, do some cleaning up, and self-publish it. When I held that proof copy in my hands, I felt like my dreams were finally coming true. I was so excited! ...but it didn't sell. I chalked it up to my busy teaching schedule not giving me any time to market my book like I wanted. (As I know now, the book needed me to have more patience in editing and for me to read a bit closer...)
Second, one of my best friends suggested to me that I try plotting out my story ahead of time. I was really resistant; it seemed like another step that I didn't have time for, especially since I was teaching full time. But he was persistent, and I found that this extra step actually saved me time. I was able to finish in just a year from start to finish! ...at least, the first draft.
2018.
I finished my first draft and started heavy edits. I was determined to have it ready to send to publishers by the top of the next year. But between the two of them, my best friends helped me to realize that both that draft and General Leila needed heavy revisions. I was extremely discouraged and it took me a few weeks to start writing again. But I did, and towards the end of the year, I made myself a goal to write at least a paragraph every day, no matter in what forum.
2019.
Now, nearly two months into the new year, I've been able to keep my goal. Revisions on Leila are ongoing, and I'm hopeful that the changes that I am making are for the better. Is it always easy to write every day? Nope. But if I'm going to hit that next milestone of being offered a publishing deal, then I have to keep on keeping on, as the church folk say.
So until that next milestone, I'm going to keep working hard and chasing my dream.
A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”
I've been spending so much time looking forward and pressing on to that mark of producing the best novel that I possibly could that I forgot about celebrating how far I've come. So this post is dedicated to the milestones that mark my growth in my writing career.
2001.
With the help of my dad to learn how to use Microsoft Word, I wrote my first short story. Was it good? Abso-positively-not. Whereas now many of my stories are inspired by dreams I've had, my first story was a straight transcription of a dream with no creative extension. I still have it saved on my computer for sentimental reasons, but otherwise it will never again see the light of day if I have anything to do with it. But this first story led to another, and another, until I had nearly a hundred partially completed manuscripts on my computer. Were any of them good? Again, no. But this early passion for writing soon helped me to develop the perseverance to complete a manuscript.
2009.
The year I finished a manuscript (which later became General Leila - more on that in a minute) and the year I started college. By this point I'd written a couple story series (one of my writing role models was Christian author Frank Peretti, who had several book series that I loved) and a couple of manuscripts. These also will only ever be seen by my siblings, who were my first beta readers. But Leila was huge for me. I discovered my love of creating elaborate twists and subplots within a story, mysteries that the reader would be dying to uncover. But then college started, and I found that I had neither the time nor the brainpower to work on anything else. I would get ideas and manage a few feeble lines, but I had not yet developed my "beginning of the story" skills and would soon get discouraged when things didn't immediately take off; besides, I had homework to do. It wasn't until seven years later (don't judge me) when I got my master's degree that I was really able to commit to writing again like I really wanted to.
2017.
Two big things happened this year. First, I decided to revisit General Leila, do some cleaning up, and self-publish it. When I held that proof copy in my hands, I felt like my dreams were finally coming true. I was so excited! ...but it didn't sell. I chalked it up to my busy teaching schedule not giving me any time to market my book like I wanted. (As I know now, the book needed me to have more patience in editing and for me to read a bit closer...)
Second, one of my best friends suggested to me that I try plotting out my story ahead of time. I was really resistant; it seemed like another step that I didn't have time for, especially since I was teaching full time. But he was persistent, and I found that this extra step actually saved me time. I was able to finish in just a year from start to finish! ...at least, the first draft.
2018.
I finished my first draft and started heavy edits. I was determined to have it ready to send to publishers by the top of the next year. But between the two of them, my best friends helped me to realize that both that draft and General Leila needed heavy revisions. I was extremely discouraged and it took me a few weeks to start writing again. But I did, and towards the end of the year, I made myself a goal to write at least a paragraph every day, no matter in what forum.
2019.
Now, nearly two months into the new year, I've been able to keep my goal. Revisions on Leila are ongoing, and I'm hopeful that the changes that I am making are for the better. Is it always easy to write every day? Nope. But if I'm going to hit that next milestone of being offered a publishing deal, then I have to keep on keeping on, as the church folk say.
So until that next milestone, I'm going to keep working hard and chasing my dream.
A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”
— Richard Bach
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