Self-Doubt, Writer's Block, and Guilt

Powell's Books

Did you know that John Steinbeck kept a journal while writing East of Eden and that it is available in book form? For writers who struggle with such things as self-doubt, writer's block, and guilt, John Steinbeck's Journal of a Novel is balm to a wound.

He wrote it in the form of letters to his editor at Viking Press, calling it his way of getting his "mental arm in shape to pitch a good game." In it, he reveals his thoughts as he struggles with plot, characterization, symbolism, and description, as well as how to mesh writing with his "outside" world.

One of Steinbeck's first journal entries deals with the guilt issue by stating, "This is a kind of necessary selfishness--otherwise books do not get written." I'm sure all writers can identify with that. As can their families.

There are hundreds of quotable sayings in Steinbeck's journal that will hit home to the writer. Following are ten I plucked out of the first twenty-three pages.

• "And if he is a writer wise enough to know it can't be done, then he is not a writer at all."
• "Whether I am good enough or gifted enough remains to be seen."
• "Now that I have everything, we shall see whether I have anything." (In reference to his new work room.)
• "I can't think of anything else necessary to a writer except a story and the will and the ability to tell it."
• "I want to go through it before it is typed and take out even the few adjectives I have let slip in."
• "I suffer as always from the fear of putting down the first line."
• And one thing we have lost--the courage to make new words or combinations."
• "Even if I knew nothing would emerge from this book I would still write it."
• "I can hear that in my ears and see it with my eyes and there is not reason why my pencil should not write it."
• "A story has a life of its own. It must be allowed to take its own pace. It can't be pushed too much."

See what I mean?

Non writers can read Journal of a Novel with equal pleasure (especially along side East of Eden), just to see how a writer's mind works while he creates his fictional world.

I'm on this book's second reading and am enjoying it even more than the first.

Happy reading.

For reviews on Journal Of A Novel, go to goodreads.

Journal Treasures/Let My Shadow Speak

By retro traveler

I'd like to share something I wrote in one of my journals, just to let you know how the mind of at least one writer works.

This entry was written on January 1, 2003, two years into the writing of my first novel, Between Will and Surrender.

"When I am writing I am doing the thing I was meant to do."

                                                                                                            --Anne Sexton

I must do more writing!

All this revising and reading of "how to" books gives me no practice in getting new words and original thoughts on paper.  Shame on me.  It's time to free my right brain from my left brain.  It's time to let my shadow speak.

"To write is to write is to write is to write is to write is to write is to write."

                                                                                                         --Gertrude Stein

To this I add:  To practice is to practice is to practice is to practice is to practice is to practice is to practice. 

Show up on the page, run the scales, execute the movement, write for the experience of it. 

Don't judge, don't analyze, don't criticize.  Trust your pen. 



I'm using A Writer's Book of Days by Judy Reeves to inspire me in my daily writing practice.  Today's topic is "Write about Sunday Afternoon." 

Reeves says to grab the tail of the first image that sails into my mind.  

Borders!

By Rebecca Williamson

People in my town are complaining about rapid growth.  Too many houses, too many fast food restaurants, too much traffic. 

But without the growth, I wouldn't have a bookstore like Borders near by.

And what would I do without Borders? 

I spend so much time there, picking up book after book, feeling each one's weight and texture, marveling at the creative covers and internal layouts, envying the prolific authors (I try not to, but can't help it.)

I love the smell of coffee and the pastries heating in the microwave.  I love the sound of the espresso machine, whirring, sputtering, and then winding down when its work is done.


By bewarenerd

Background music, conversations, cash registers, all blend together into an ambiance I savor.  Nothing like a warm cup of coffee, a notebook, a pen, and a new book. 

Books speak to me.  I want to buy them all.  Usually, I'm able to limit myself to just one, rationalizing that education is worth the cost.  Better to spend it here than at the doctor's, is one of my favorite rationals.  Its soothes my conscience every time.

I slip into Borders between errands and after church on Sundays.  Sometimes my mother joins me.  At first she was reluctant, wondering how people could occupy themselves in a bookstore for so long.  But now she loves it.  She can rest her legs, have a cup of coffee, and delve into the world of books.  Her only complaint, she, too, wants to buy them all.

I'm grateful Borders has come to our town. 

I'll try to remember that when I'm stuck in traffic.

###

Now, eight years later, I still feel the same about Borders.

I meet my critique partners there twice a month.  We spend hours reviewing each other's work, talking about writing--drinking coffee.

I buy books on craft.

I buy books written by authors who inspire me.

Without Borders, I wouldn't have completed writing four novels.

Without Borders, I would have given up long ago.

Borders helps my shadow speak.

###

My gratitude to Borders for helping my shadow speak, made it particularly hard for me to read in yesterday's Sacramento Bee an article by Maria Panaritis of the Philadelphia Inquirer called "Booksellers' digital turn leaves Borders behind."

 

In it Maria talks about how Borders has been "battered by the radical shift of consumers to purchasing and reading digital books over the Internet."

 

I have nothing against electronic book-reading tablets and online stores for sellng e-books.  They obviously fulfill a need and are here to stay.

But where else can I find a place to write, meet with friends, and enjoy a cup of coffee, PLUS leaf through and BUY a paperbound book other than my local Borders?  Not over the Internet.

Can Borders save itself? 

Only time will tell.

 

Book Talk Friday: Journal of a Novel



Powell's Books



Did you know that John Steinbeck kept a journal while writing East of Eden and that it is available in book form?  For writers who struggle with such things as self-doubt, writer's block, and guilt, John Steinbeck's Journal of a Novel is balm to a wound.

 

He wrote it in the form of letters to his editor at Viking Press, calling it his way of getting his "mental arm in shape to pitch a good game."  In it, he reveals his thoughts as he struggles with plot, characterization, symbolism, and description, as well as how to mesh writing with his "outside" world.

One of Steinbeck's first journal entries deals with the guilt issue by stating, "This is a kind of necessary selfishness--otherwise books do not get written."  I'm sure all writers can identify with that.  As can their families.

There are hundreds of quotable sayings in Steinbeck's journal that will hit home to the writer.  Following are ten I plucked out of the first twenty-three pages.

• "And if he is a writer wise enough to know it can't be done, then he is not a writer at all."
• "Whether I am good enough or gifted enough remains to be seen."
• "Now that I have everything, we shall see whether I have anything." (In reference to his new work room.)
• "I can't think of anything else necessary to a writer except a story and the will and the ability to tell it."
• "I want to go through it before it is typed and take out even the few adjectives I have let slip in."
• "I suffer as always from the fear of putting down the first line."
• And one thing we have lost--the courage to make new words or combinations."
• "Even if I knew nothing would emerge from this book I would still write it."
• "I can hear that in my ears and see it with my eyes and there is not reason why my pencil should not write it."
• "A story has a life of its own.  It must be allowed to take its own pace.  It can't be pushed too much."

See what I mean?

Non writers can read Journal of a Novel with equal pleasure (especially along side East of Eden), just to see how a writer's mind works while he creates his fictional world.

I'm on this book's second reading and am enjoying it even more than the first.

Happy reading.

For reviews on Journal Of A Novel, go to goodreads.

Thursday Two Questions/Your Work in Progress

In Journal of a Novel, John Steinbeck wrote, "Even if I knew nothing would emerge from this book I would still write it."

He was talking about East of Eden, which we all know turned out to be a great success.  He had no way of knowing this, of course, during the time he was writing it.  In fact, he said, "This book will be the most difficult of all I have ever attempted.  Whether I am good enough or gifted enough remains to be seen."

Using his words as a guide, my Thursday Two Questions are:

1.  If you knew nothing would emerge from your work in progress, would you continue to do it?  Why or why not?

2.  What are you working on now?

That's it.  Just leave your answers in the comment section below.

And if  you want to enter your own blog in Thursday Two Questions, visit its host Blessing Reflections for instructions, or follow the link below.