Reflections on being a writer: Judy Croome Guest Post

I'm delighted to welcome South African author Judy Croome to The Beautiful Room.  I recently met Judy "virtually" after reading her excellent article http://www.thebookdesigner.com/2014/05/judy-croome/, in which she shares her tips for reading aloud at writer events.  This really resonated with me, so I decided to visit Judy's website and contact her.  (This is one of the things I love about the internet - being able to connect with other writers anywhere in the world).  Happily, Judy very kindly agreed to be interviewed, providing some really thought-provoking and inspirational reflections on being a writer......

What is the best thing about being a writer?

Freedom, on all levels.

There’s the physical freedom of being able to work in my pyjamas on a cold winter’s morning or at a time of day that allows me to meet other commitments.

Then there’s emotional freedom. In today’s world many of us are so well-socialised or so intellectualised that we’ve lost touch with our feelings. Don’t cry, Johnny, boys don’t cry. Don’t shout, Alice, girls don’t get angry.  
No wonder we repress our deepest emotions. Whenever one writes, the possibility exists that we can, in a safe way, tap into those emotions buried so deeply and free them from where they’re nailed into our psyches. 

And, finally, when your writing pushes you into places you never thought you could go, there’s a spiritual freedom that comes from unexpectedly meeting an inner self that is truer than any other personality mask we wear.

What is the worst thing about being a writer?

Fear. The time between books is always a dangerous time for me, because it’s then that I’m most tempted to give up writing. I’m riddled with fear and doubt and anxiety about everything from the reviews of my last book to the ideas I have for future books. That’s why I procrastinate (a lot!) before diving in to the actual writing. When I do begin to write again, it takes an act of real self-discipline to keep myself writing as I travel into the dark places that the muse sometimes takes me.

Most writers complain about being easily distracted and the problems of procrastinating.  Is this something that affects you? 

I have a PhD in Procrastination. I’ve developed Procrastination into an art form more complex than anything I’ve ever written. I also have the attention span of a pea. So, yes, Procrastination is a serious issue for me. I think I’ll go and make a cup of tea now. I’ll be back in a minute to write the rest of this article!

Why do you think this especially seems to be an issue for writers? (rather than artists or composers?) 

Writing is a more intellectual process than the other creative arts. Each creative art has its own “intellectual” technique, that is, the learned part of the craft. But when it comes to the creative alchemy, words are more of the intellect than music or paintings. 

A writer needs a strong mind to keep the words dancing. While the power of the mind is a great asset in creating a logical story or character arc, or for the endless editing and revision stages that a story requires, that same mind can be a disadvantage at times.

It can deceive us into thinking we’re actually writing when we’re only perfecting our procrastination skills.  Social media, plotting our stories, seeking that perfect word to write that perfect sentence all feel like “real” writing, but they’re simply avoidance techniques.

What do writers want to avoid? All those scary emotions that writing forces to the surface in a way that the mind can’t control or repress. And so writers procrastinate more than artists or musicians who, to create, have to move into a space beyond the mind rather than (as writers do) work through the mind to create.  I sometimes think of my procrastination period as a pre-writing war: my emotional urge to create a story battling it out with my intellectual urge to keep the dark creative void at bay.

Do you have any tips for other writers to help in being focussed and maintaining that focus?

Only one. Write every day. Even if it’s only 100 words a day, write.  When I start a writing task, I use a modified version of the “Don’t Break the Chain” calendar based upon a motivation technique purportedly used by Jerry Seinfeld. It really works. Once you cross off the first block, it’s almost impossible to resist striving to keep the chain going. And don’t cheat yourself. If you don’t write on the work you’re trying to finish, you don’t get to cross off a block! Here’s the link for more information on that method: Jerry Seinfeld’s Don’t Break the Chain Method

Here’s another link to an excellent article on writer’s procrastination and how to overcome it

Can writers change the world? 

Indirectly, yes, I do believe that writers can change the world. As the great Mahatma Gandhi said, the way to change the world is to change oneself. Our words can reach out to people and change their inner landscape. Like water dripping from a tap, drop by drop, if enough people change themselves, then the world will eventually change too. I’ve included this philosophy in my biography on my website:

If you were not a writer, which other art form or profession would you pursue to express yourself?

I used to be an accountant. I still don’t know how I survived all those years in an office environment. If I could choose another career to creatively express myself in, I’d ask God to grant me the gift of being able to create beautiful music. Music, more than any other artistic form, has the ability to transcend language and difference, reminding us of our common humanity through the harmony of wordless sounds.

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Judy Croome lives and writes in Johannesburg, South Africa. Shortlisted in the African Writing Flash Fiction 2011 competition, Judy’s short stories and poems have appeared in various magazines and anthologies, such as the Huffington Post and the University of the Witwatersrand’s Itch Magazine.

Judy loves her family, cats, exploring the meaning of life, chocolate, cats, rainy days, ancient churches with their ancient graveyards, cats, meditation and solitude. Oh, and cats. Judy loves cats (who already appear to have discovered the meaning of life.) 

Her books “The Weight of a Feather & Other Stories” (2013), “a Lamp at Midday” (2012) and “Dancing in the Shadows of Love” (2011) are available, and she is currently researching child murders for her next novel and you can visit Judy on www.judycroome.com , “Like” her Facebook Author page for updates or join her on Twitter @judy_croome.

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You might also enjoy these related posts:
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/reflections-on-being-full-time-writer.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/can-writers-really-change-world.html

Words with Jam: how to make time for writing

Today you will find me over at the excellent writing magazine, Words with Jam.  

I'm exploring 10 ways to free up more time for the creative stuff.  Click link to read the article:
http://www.wordswithjam.co.uk/2013/12/the-write-time-10-ideas-to-free-up.html

Losing your writing mojo?

In previous posts I have mused a little on the importance of a writing routine and self discipline.  I came to the conclusion that it's important to have both.  For a while now, I have had neither.

I won't bang on about this, as I don't have any solutions, suffice to say that by building some routine into my day (by starting early with a run) I am hoping this will kick start things.  Soon.

This, in turn, may improve my motivation, because I have felt, for some time recently, that the lifelong passion I have had for writing has temporarily left me.  The positive from this is my renewed passion for reading.

So, without further ado (what a lovely expression) I am going to refer you to a couple of pieces by others that throw light on the subject.

The first is a piece in the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2013/apr/26/creative-change-passion-career-advice?CMP=

The second is by my friend, photographer, writer and artist Jan Woodhouse on the importance of routine and how this relates to our sense of achievement.

"I think I’ve always undervalued routine. Nowadays I’m finding that – at the very least – it rescues me from having that ‘nothing achieved’ feeling at the end of the day. And, at best, in focusing my mind, it somehow frees me to be more creative and imaginative rather than less."
Check out the full article on her perceptive blog http://www.artatwoodhouse.co.uk/blog/index.php

Related posts:

http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/writing-routines-and-running.html

http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/writing-in-cupboard.html

Writing,Therapy, Creatabot and Philip Glass

Today you will find me over at the art e-zine Creatabot talking about writing and therapy, among other issues....

http://creatabot.co.uk/2013/01/16/writing-therapy-and-positive-outcomes-by-jane-ayres/

Please check it out - I'd love to hear your comments.

On the subject of writing and therapy, I want to share with you a wonderful quote from one of my favourite composers, Philip Glass, heard on the documentary Portrait of Philip Glass in 12 parts:

I have a friend who’s a writer and he says that his writing is an anecdote to the chaos in the world around him…he retreats into that world.  That becomes more important than the world he sees. I suppose some people might not think that’s such a great thing but he thinks it is. It’s all real, it’s just what you choose to establish as the core of your being. He makes the core of his life an active imagination.  Is that escape or is that liberation? …..For him writing is a resolution of his life.  It makes his life solid and real.  Without that the world would overwhelm him with its chaos.

For the journey

Today I'm over at Creatabot again.  I love writing posts for this excellent e-zine.

Here's a taste...

So many great stories are about literal or spiritual journeys, in which the protagonist is changed by the process, whether she has experienced incredible dramatic adventures or pursued more reflective contemplation.  Journeys seem to be a recurrent theme in my writing.  More than 20 years ago, the first novel I had published, Wild Horse Island, was about a horse taken from.....

Click here to read the full article
http://creatabot.co.uk/2012/12/09/for-the-journey-by-jane-ayres/

Cafes, hotels, coffee and writers

Yesterday I spent a stimulating day in London with a wonderful friend talking about books, plots, stories and the future for authors.  More of this in a later post.  

A visit to the London Review Bookshop and cafe http://www.lrbshop.co.uk/cakeshop

made me think how amazing bookshops are, and how they could never disappear.  Just being surrounded by so many books was actually quite awe-inspiring and reminded me of the reason I became a writer in the first place – because I was inspired by books.

I was looking forward to the lovely cakes but had to decline, since every single cake that day contained nuts.  Walnuts, almonds, pistachios…Even the quiche had pinenuts.  So not a place for allergy sufferers.

However, our first stop for coffee had been the splendid Renaissance Hotel near St Pancras.

Designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, this building is a stunning piece of Victorian architecture. The atmosphere, attention to detail and interior design tricks you into thinking you have stepped into the past, with jazz music from the 1930s playing in the background.  A great place to write, both in the smaller room by the entrance and the bustle of the upstairs bar and lounge by the station. 

http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/hotel-information/travel/lonpr-st-pancras-renaissance-london-hotel/

Cafes, hotels, coffee and writers seem to go together.  Perfectly.

Finding my Nano Creature

Today you'll find me over at the lovely Anushka's site Finding my Creature.......

Go to the link for the post:
http://findingmycreature.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/nanocreature-interview-5/

The Art of Wish Fulfilment

Do check out my recent post on Creatabot - about my attempts to create my dream world from words, clay and pencils!

http://creatabot.co.uk/2012/11/05/the-art-of-wish-fulfilment-by-jane-ayres/

Writing in a cupboard

If you want to check out my recent post about writing spaces for Creatabot, it starts like this....

A dear friend recently reminded me that I once wrote in a cupboard.  

In a previous home I rented, space was very limited but the bedroom had a large walk-in wardrobe.  Since my clothes only took up a fraction of the space, I realised my computer desk would fit in perfectly, with a stool tucked underneath and I could close the doors on it.  This became my writing space, and very successful it was too.  I was both prolific and productive during that time.  

To read on go to http://creatabot.co.uk/2012/10/20/writing-in-a-cupboard-by-jane-ayres/

The Beautiful Room

The Beautiful Room is an imaginary place where all the unpublished manuscripts and unperformed music is stored.  A room bursting with creativity, colour and sound.  Just waiting to be discovered, for someone to open that door........

More on journeys

I said in a previous blog that life is a journey.  I do believe this.  I feel it.  Not long after I had written it I started to read Super Sad True Love Story, a novel set in the future by Gary Shteyngart.  He was interviewed in the BBC documentary called Books - The Last Chapter (referred to in a previous blog) and this inspired me to seek out his novel.

The second paragraph reads, “Don’t let them tell you life is a journey.  A journey is when you end up somewhere.  When I take the number 6 train to see my social worker, that’s a journey.”

That made me think about my journey.  Where do I want to end up?  I don’t know the answer yet, although we all end up in the same place ultimately.  Journey and destination.  Both matter.

Train journeys and car journeys both provide great creative space, I find, whether I am driver or passenger.  Ideas fire off unprompted in a way that rarely happens if I am staring at my computer screen.

I’ve just read Rumblestrip by Woodrow Phoenix, a monochrome graphic book all about what happens when we get behind a steering wheel.  The layout cleverly simulates a car journey and as you read, you feel as if you are in fact on a virtual car journey.  I came across this book in a store in London at http://www.theschooloflife.com/

I keep promising myself I will go on one of their day schools some time.  Anyway, the book provides alarming statistics about deaths caused by driving and is thought-provoking.  I sometimes dream about driving a car, and when I drive at night, I sometimes wonder if I am dreaming.  Woodrow Phoenix describes it perfectly:

“There is a dreamlike quality built into the experience of driving.  A car windshield is a big window.  And also a screen….locations unwind on the other side of this rectangular glass almost as they do on a movie screen….you sit cocooned in your cabin….everything outside your windows is contained, the rest of the world an arm’s length away…..you glide through location after location as if they were erected just for you to drive past.  Every journey is a narrative with you at the centre.”  

I love that last line.

Related posts:
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/for-journey.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/footsteps-in-sand-guest-blog-from-jan.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/journeys-and-shapes.html
http://janeayres.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/wheels.html