Focus and writing

"I can't finish my story!"

It's one of the most repeated frustrations I hear from new writers.

My response is, "Do you know where you're going?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know the ending?"

"Oh."

Look, if I were to hop in my car and drive from Pittsburgh, PA to San Francisco, CA I could end up in a lot of places from Calgary to Kalamazoo. That might not be a bad thing. But, if I'm writing a story, I could get very frustrated.

I've heard new writers tell me how exciting it is to have characters move things along.

Been there.

Done that.

Didn't sell the story.

I am one of those who believes in focus, not psychosis. Sure, I've let characters take over and run with things. I can let my mind wander from sentence to sentence and end up with a story that is totally cinematic and on the surface and not marketable.

I'm writing because I have to, because I have these characters who want out, but I'm also writing to sell.

Therefore, I need to focus. I need to know where I'm going. Because I'm so easily...hey, look there's four cardinals at the birdfeeder...dis...there's a blue jay chasing them away...tracted. I have a busy brain.

Self-hypnosis has really helped me. It helps me find that quiet place where I can get serious and write.

Not everyone needs self-hypnosis to write. But good writers have focus.

PS The photo is one I took when I went to Costa Rica. Travel is good.

Write what you know

Anyone starting to write will hear this phrase over and over--"Write what you know."

Have I found it to be true? Yes. But only if you accept that what you know is yourself and your imagination. For me, getting to know my imagination has been learning to find restraint. Learning to focus.

And what gives a writer focus is character.

It's not the volcano, the hurricane, or the army of giant spiders...although, certainly there's some fun to be had...no, it's understanding your story is about what your character wants and what she's going to do to get it. That's it.
You have to create a character the reader will fall in love with and care about.

When my daughters, Danika and Beatrice, were little there was a story they wanted again and again and again. It's a book called, "The Funny Little Woman." The author is Arlene Mosel and the illustrations are by Blair Lent. Take a look at it and see why when at the end of a page you are anxious to turn to the next.

The focus stays on the "funny little woman" and you want to find out what happens to her.

Focus. Focus on character. Let what you know guide you. Trust in your imagination. It will take you there.

Writing for kids = honesty

As a children's book author I'm sometimes asked to visit schools. These are fun days for me as it's a chance to get out and meet my audience. I use a PowerPoint presentation where I talk about writing tall tales and stretching the truth. Afterwards it's Q & A time.
Sometimes the questions are very focused, "How old are you?"
Sometimes I don't get questions, I get declarations, "I have a dog. He farts."
Honesty. That's what kids like.

Sometimes questions come because students have visited my website (kittygriffin.com) and they find something they want to ask me about. Like the first grade boy from a nearby school. I'd finished reading Cowboy Sam and asked for questions. This boy's hand was up in the air and he was bouncing on the wooden bleacher as if readying for take-off. I nodded to him and he asked, "Why don't you eat your ferret?"
I'm not often speechless, but for a moment I was.
I repeated the question back to him and added, "Why would you ask me that?"
He stared at me as though he was the teacher and I the little kid. "Well, on your website you talk about your chocolate ferret. Why don't you eat it?"
He spoke the truth. I do have a chocolate ferret. But she's like having a chocolate lab, that's her color.
But he saw chocolate.
Something to eat.
Oh...oh!!! He thought it was silly to call something chocolate if it wasn't.

Lesson learned--don't forget how literal children can take things. Pay attention, because they certainly will be. And they will catch you every time.

If you're a beginning children's writer and you have questions, try Harold Underdown's site, "The Purple Crayon." You'll find lots of interesting articles there.