Color My Palate. On the Road. Last weekend, my dear writing pal Karen (http://www.splatospheric.com/)asked me if I would participate in a blog tour about “My Writing Process”. I asked many probing questions for I still don’t see myself as a writer in comparison to her or her super professional writing friend Phillipa (http://artisfear.com/), whom I still haven’t met in person, but know so much about from reading both their blogs. These women are what I want to be a part of: a community of writers, artists who practice and publish their art regularly. Reading their blogs and listening to their talk show, which is now on iTunes, inspires me to keep at my craft in hopes of someday achieving my ultimate goal–to sit in front of a computer and write for a living.
My Writing Process…
What am I working on?
I’m working on a young adult novel about 17 year old girl who lost her father the summer before she starts her senior year. Aarthi is trying to make peace with loving and hating her alcoholic father equally. While I have finished a 3rd of this novel, I doubt myself every day and for the first few minutes before I begin writing again. I wonder if it is better as a short story. I wonder if this story is worth telling. I wonder if my writing is good enough.
Once I continue Aarthi’s story, however, all my doubts melt into a pool of energy–positive, creative, energy. I hope to finish this novel this year.
Additionally, I am in the process of refocusing my blog.
How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Well my main character is bi-sexual and Indian–a perspective that is, I hope, new or newer at least. I would love to see my students read more diverse literature and this was my main reason for starting this novel. I would like to create positive change in the portrayal of sexuality identity and teen relationships in YA novels.
Why do I write what I do?
I write to create writing that makes me proud, to connect with others, to remind myself that I am an artist, to become a better person.
How does my writing process work?
My writing process begins with television and long drives. It stops with social media and my job. I struggle to be disciplined as an artist, to write regularly. I wish I could work on my novel weekly, but alas my first excuse to not is my job. I teach reading and writing and read a lot of writing for my job. It wears me down and coming to work on my writing doesn’t always excite me.
Then, I turn on the television on watch a really good show that reminds me that I really want to make art. So I continue, little by little. I once read that long drives and long showers allow your mind to create because you are doing something mindless that occupies a certain part of your mind and leaves the other part in creation mode. I tried it once–thanks to my friends and family who live in Maryland–I get to take long drives frequently. During these drives, I am drafting scenes and recording ideas into my voice memo app on my phone.
Because I am still drafting, I haven’t even thought about revision and the discipline that would take. Alas, for now, I write as regularly as I can to try and finish my novel and in hopes to publishing it someday.
And now–drum roll please…I pass this writing tour over to Ms. Katie C (http://theseshiningfaces.wordpress.com/). A pal of mine for years now who is the reason I wrote my first blog on Color My Palate. Katie courageously chose to start her blog a few years ago as a way to share her journey through and out of depression and healing. I have often felt a strong kinship to this lovely lady because of the similarities of our lives and experiences. She continues to write and is participating in NaPoWriMo with me this year. Her poetry is inspiring! Check her out next week!
