Four steps to writing nonfiction

A few years ago at the Missouri Writers' Guild Conference, I heard John C. McManus, an award-winning professor, author, and military historian speak about writing history. Much of what he said would translate to any type of nonfiction work, so I'm condensing some of his information and combining it with what I teach about speaking for my oral communications classes, to set up a four-step primer on writing nonfiction. (Next week I'll cover research.)

First, follow your passion, or write what you know.

McManus said there is huge potential in writing nonfiction, and "a vast universe you know better than anyone." Start with a concept or idea even if it's a subject you have studied just because you like it. I tell my students to talk about something they know about, and that simple is good. If you have experience with a subject, then you have a perspective we may not have heard.

I'm always amazed at the variety of topics I hear for speeches, which can vary from a job (Anthony Bourdain's first book "Kitchen Confidential," covered his experience working in kitchens and his passion for food, as did many successful business writers who shared their experiences about what went right, what went wrong and every topic in between). Writing about hobbies is another way to explore more great topics. Maybe you go to classic car shows every weekend, or like to watch foreign movies, train dogs, knit, collect rocks or any other hobby has the potential to be turned into a work of nonfiction.

Many writers assume that because a topic is an "everyday" sort of idea that no one will be interested. Not true. I've heard great speeches and read great essays about topics like grandparents, math, cartoons, bedspreads and hiking. None of those topics seem out-of-the-ordinary, and they aren't. But everyone has a story, and that story might involve something simple, but compelling.

You can also start with a question. Are you curious about a topic? Did something happen to make you ask a question? That can be a starting point for an article, book or blog. Here's my question for the Fourth of July weekend. Yesterday, I saw "Free State of Jones" starring Matthew McConaughey. My question revolves around window coverings. Yes, window coverings! Not something most people would notice. So, here goes:

In the scenes inside the Colonel's office, I was struck by the use of window blinds. They seemed advanced for the Civil-War time frame, because other scenes depicted people picking cotton by hand, wearing hand-made clothing and using a spinning wheel. So I looked online, and here's the URL to an article I found about the history of window blinds. They are older than you think!

http://blog.blinds.com/venetian-history/

So every topic has the potential to be a topic worthy of study. Don't overlook something just because it's simple. Simple is good!

Write soon (about something simple!)

Mary

Thanks, Witch Dawg!

I'm feeling the rejection again. Trying to write, teach, etc., and am getting some not-so-positive feedback for a couple of projects, (but some is constructive criticism on a new project, which is to be expected, so I don't mind that!). But when put all together, it can bring you down a bit, so I loved this quote I found on Twitter from Sean Gardner @2morrowknight:

The best way to avoid criticism: never do anything. Or, do what you love, have a great life & let others spend time criticizing

 ~Ricky Gervais

Today one of my friends told me about the name calling used in some criticism of her work, which was so outlandish it was hilarious. So thanks for sharing, Witch Dawg!

I was also reminded of an article I wrote many years ago that an old editor hated. She asked me if I was in a coma when I wrote it. Said I needed to rewrite it, etc., to be fit for print, yada yada. The same article was scheduled to run in a sister publication, so I went to that editor and told her what had happened, and that I was going to rewrite it and would send her the revised version.

The (second) editor said "It's fine, I'm running it as is."

So opinions and evaluations and critiques are subjective. And that's good to remember. If I had given up after the first criticism, I never would have written a book about writing (Strengthen Your Nonfiction Writing), or continued to work on my two (unpublished, but not for long) novels.

Write soon, (regardless of what the critics say)

Mary

Advice from a great songwriter

Although I wasn’t familiar with Guy Clark, the singer-songwriter from Nashville who died today at the age of 74, he had some great advice for writers disguised as advice for songwriters. In a 2013 NPR interview with Melissa Block, he said what’s not in the song is as important as what is in the song. “Less is more,” he said. “Don’t clutter up the English language. Leave people with the ability to become part of it.”

Many others artists were influenced by Clark, including Lyle Lovvett, who said Guy’s first record helped tell him what a song could be, should be. Emmylou Harris said Clark embraced the human condition. There was no judgment in his music, everyone is equal – everyone has been on a rough road.

Good advice when writing a song or a story.

Write soon,

Mary

Ten habits of highly productive writers

MAY 7, 2015 BY RACHEL TOOR 0 COMMENTS

1) They reject the notion of “writer’s block” the way others shun gluten. Some people are truly unable to tolerate that vilified protein, but many more leap after a culprit to explain their dyspepsia or inability to refrain from carby deliciosity. Maybe cutting out a big food group makes it easier to stick to a diet than being careful about portion sizes of crusty bread and pasta puttanesca. Certainly there’s a comfort in diagnosis, relief in the idea that suffering can be linked to a thing that others also get. Likewise, it’s a lot easier to say that the muse has gone AWOL than to admit that writing is hard and requires discipline and sacrifice.

Productive writers don’t reach for excuses when the going gets hard. They treat writing like the job it is. They show up, punch the clock, and punch out. They give themselves a quota; sometimes it’s butt-in-chair time, sometimes a word count. Simple math allows you to figure out how quickly 1,000 words a day adds up to a book-length work. These writers know how to use deadlines, whether external or self-imposed, to stay on track.

2) They believe in themselves and their work. To be a prolific writer you have to believe that what you’re doing matters. The work takes priority. You have to believe it’s your job to be productive and to feel bad if you’re not.

3) They know that a lot of important stuff happens when they’re not “working”. Productive writers have been through the cycle enough to know it’s a cycle, and sometimes you figure out problems while you’re walking the dog. They know to trust that and don’t get twitchy when the pages stop piling up.

4) They’re passionate about their projects. Too much scholarly work is obviously produced without heat. Some academics take so long to finish a book they can barely remember what interested them about the topic in the first place. Productive people become impatient and seek out new thrills. They like to learn stuff.

5) They know what they’re good at. Perhaps academics find themselves traumatized by writing because they’re trying to sound like some “smart” version of themselves. Their writing comes off as inauthentic. Often, however, these same people can talk about their ideas in a way that makes you want to listen for hours. The best writing is a conversation between author and reader. If these folks could write more like they teach—be themselves on the page—the work would surely benefit.

6) They read a lot, and widely.  Productive writers (should) pay attention to craft and read to steal tricks and moves from authors they admire. Reading becomes a get-psyched activity for writing. Anyone who’s ever assigned (or done) an exercise in imitation knows that.

7) They know how to finish a draft. As with relationships, beginnings are exciting and easy, full of hope and promise. Middles can get comfortable. You fall into a routine and, for a while, that can be its own kind of fun. But then many of us hit a wall. Whether it’s disillusion, boredom, or self-doubt, we crash into stuckness. Productive authors know that they have to keep going through the hard parts and finish a complete draft. At least you’ve got something to work from.

8) They work on more than one thing at once. Of course, when you hit that wall, it’s tempting to give up and start on something new and exciting. While that can lead to a sheaf of unfinished drafts, it can also be useful. Some pieces need time to smolder. Leaving them to turn to something short and manageable makes it easier to go back to the big thing. Fallowing and crop rotation lead to a greater harvest.

9) They leave off at a point where it will be easy to start again. Some writers quit a session in the middle of a sentence; it’s always easier to continue than to begin. If you know where you’re headed the next time you sit down, you’ll get there faster.

10) They know there are no shortcuts, magic bullets, special exercises, or incantations.There are no tricks to make it easier, just habits and practices you can develop to get it done.

Rachel Toor is an associate professor of creative writing at Eastern Washington University. www.racheltoor.com. Excerpted from an article that originally appeared in The Chronicle for Higher Education. Used with permission.

Write soon,

Mary