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It has officially started! National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is one of my favorite times of the year. It gives me an excuse to focus on writing what I love most – fiction. Of course, you can write whatever you want for NaNoWriMo, my heart just happens to be with fiction. What are your plans for writing this month? Are you going to commit to NaNoWriMo? If you have already started, what is your favorite line that you have written so far?
Many have argued that the best artists are the ones wielding a tortured soul. With serious issues like drug induced inspiration, gambling addictions, drowning sorrows and looking for answers in the bottom of one kind of bottle or another. They had some kind of weakness or childhood trauma that they overcame or channeled and turned into great works of art. I’ve always teased my parents that they ruined my chances at being a great writer by giving me a great childhood.
So I don’t have a drinking problem, or do drugs. I’ve never gambled with anything more than skittles in a poker game or by not taking my umbrella on an ominous looking cloudy day. I’ve never been divorced or suffered a premature loss of a loved one. All the typical dirt that a tormented artist uses to fuel their inspiration is beyond me. So what are my vices? Do I really need to start working on a drinking problem? (Seems expensive if you ask me). What could I use to tap the depths of my “un-tortured” soul?
Well, thankfully I have come to terms with, what some may call, a hum-drum life. And while I don’t think you have to have a tortured past or a narcotics problem to write, I do believe that writers can create beautiful work, sharing truths discovered by living lives both fully and sometimes, terribly. I believe it simply comes down to writing honestly.
Every writer pulls words together for a reason, and that reason doesn’t necessarily have to be dark. You can write for joy too! Happiness can be just as fueling as misery and in fact I think more fulfilling to write about. While it is necessary to learn from our mistakes, we can discover truth in the good times as well. A marriage, the birth of a child, a victory, a successful meeting, even a perfectly executed somersault or figuring out how to set the clock on the stereo; all of these things are gems and make great fodder for writing.
Living, loving and suffering. We pull emotions from all these things that reveal truths that are often too great to keep to ourselves. That’s what makes us writers, recording our experiences and, if we want to, sharing what we’ve learned.
I do think that a widow writing about loss is more powerful than an equally skilled writer without the same experience. And there are some artists who have created great work while under the influence of one thing or another. But these circumstances are not a guarantee of great work, they are simply part of life and the human condition.
Fydor Dostoevsky, Kurt Cobain, Sylvia Plath, Hemmingway, Beethoven, Tennessee Williams, Vincent van Gogh; these are the models upon which the tortured artist is based. They were all amazing artists. And yes, they committed suicide or died in physical, financial or mental ruin.
But the issues that plague great artists, low self esteem, terrible health, heartbreak, depression, domineering parents, alcoholism and post traumatic stress disorder, are all human issues. People who don’t write, draw, sing, play, dance or paint go through these same issues and God help them all. These are not ailments of a tortured artist, these are symptoms of our fragile humanity.
I do not encourage you to stay sad for the sake or creativity, or to drink and do drugs for the sake of creativity. What I do encourage is that you live your life fully and truly and by all means, write with your heart and your gut. But above all else, write with honesty.
Why do we ever do anything other than to follow our dreams? Even the ones we don’t know we have yet, the ones that are taking shape?
There was a time when my boss–the news director at the TV station where I worked–advised me, for the sake of my credibility as a budding journalist, to reconsider bringing baked goods to the newsroom for my coworkers to eat. I was young, blonde, and had a unique name rather than a trusty Anne or reliable Rachel, and therefore had to be careful, lest people start thinking of me as the newsroom Martha Stewart. These days, as a food writer, I question whether that would have been such a bad result.
I was aiming for a career in news at the time and was so dedicated to the opportunities already presented to me so early on that I did what I thought it would take to land my first on-air job. I cut and dyed my hair, bought the wardrobe fit for a reporter, and read books about interviewing and doing live on-air standups. I recorded my résumé tape in my spare time and mapped out a plan to eventually leave my big-city writing and producing job to pay my dues as a reporter in a smaller market before working my way back to Seattle.
I had so many people supporting me in my endeavors, from the news director who was my mentor of sorts, to some of the city’s veteran anchors—not to mention my soon-to-be husband, who stood behind my career goals that had already defined so much of our lives. So I think it was a surprise to a lot of people when in August 2007 I left my job and said goodbye to the world of television news. I took the proverbial leap of faith and decided to make a foray into print journalism, ultimately landing upon a communications and marketing job at a theater–something unexpectedly perfect for me at the time.
As I look back on my career in TV news and the experiences I have had since, I am awed by how each step has built upon the next to bring me where I am today, still a writer but with a different goal: writing a book. Today I am making a commitment here on Nooks & Cranberries to keep that goal going.
There’s no one warning me that baking might ruin my credibility, because baking is part of what my goal is founded upon. I have been wanting to write a book, a food memoir related to my Scandinavian heritage, and it is time to start taking the steps to make it happen. So this is when I follow my dreams. The first step: starting the book proposal. I did that nearly two weeks ago, on October 18. Rather than committing to a timeline right now, I need to dig in and determine the steps I need to take to get the proposal just right. The timeline, I expect, will come organically. Besides, I have a commitment on the pages of this blog, where you are part of my accountability network. If six months from now you haven’t heard me tell you about the progress I’m making on the proposal, then I ask you to tell me, “What’s stopping you from pursuing your dream?” Because each dream starts with one small step, a step that is incomparably easy next to the daunting process that we might see before us if we don’t break it down in our minds before starting. Why not begin right now?
Image: Collage features photos of things I’ve baked and shared at Outside Oslo. Hungry? Check it out!
It’s been a few months since our wine weekend in Walla Walla, and we’re just itching to go back. As many excellent places that Seattle has for writers, Walla Walla on the far corner of the state is brimming with them too. So far we’ve told you about Brasserie Four (perfect for brainstorming with your writing partner over a salade Niçoise), the Green Spoon (where you can enjoy fresh and healthy lunch while getting in some good people-watching), and the Colville Street Patisserie (just right for lingering with a laptop and a salty-sweet kouign amann). Now it’s time to share with you a wine tasting room that’s perfect for jumpstarting your creativity: Walla Faces.
Walla Faces is a multi-faceted brand in Walla Walla, offering wine, lodging at both its vineyard and downtown inn, as well as hosting live music, book clubs, and other events. For the purpose of this article, we’re focusing on the tasting room experience.
Food and Drink
Stop in the downtown tasting room and get ready to meet some new friends: Rick & Debbie, Caroline, Frank, and Winnie, or whoever they’re pouring that day. That’s right, these wines are named after people. And each has a label designed by Walla Walla-based artist Candice Johnson.
Location and Atmosphere
Located in an historic building, the ceiling is just as much a work of art as the colorful paintings and photography hanging on the walls. Depending on the time of day that you stop in, you can experience either a hub of activity and music, or a quiet place to stroll and view all the artful surroundings while tasting the wine selections of the day.
Writeability and Purchased Presence
One of the reasons we’ve selected Walla Faces for a Destination Inspiration feature is the variety of art forms celebrated here. From Candice Johnson’s paintings that grace the wine labels and much of the tasting room’s interior to the book club and live music hosted here, there is plenty of opportunity to get some cross-media inspiration at Walla Faces. If you’re down the street at a coffee shop and feeling stuck with a case of writer’s block, simply pack up and walk down to Walla Faces and take in the surroundings. Perhaps taking a little break and being inspired by other artists will help get you back on track.
Price
The price for tasting is not much more than a latte at a local coffee shop.
Parking
The tasting room is located downtown, but at one of the further ends, so street parking should be easy to come by.
Writer’s Tip
It’s de rigour to bring a notebook and pen along while wine tasting so you can take notes on the wine. So bring along your writing notebook and take a little time to exercise your descriptive skills as you jot down notes on what you’re experiencing, both in the tasting and in your surroundings.
Find It
Walla Faces Wine Tasting Room & Art Gallery
216 E Main St
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Website
Full disclosure: Walla Faces provided our lodging and tasting during our July visit to Walla Walla.
We love nothing more than curling up with a blanket and a book and a hot cup of chai tea on autumn days. It’s a good thing that reading is essential work for writers! I made a batch of homemade chai concentrate last week and had it waiting for Sarah when she arrived home from a trip to California to visit family. I highly suggest that you whip up a batch for your own kitchen. The concentrate takes a matter of minutes to prepare, and elevates an ordinary cup of black tea to something creamy, sweet, and spicy–just right for a blustery autumn day.
Homemade Chai Concentrate
Adapted from The Naptime Chef
1 (14 ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon demerara or raw sugar
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Combine all ingredients together in a jar, stirring well so the spices are fully incorporated. Store the concentrate in the refrigerator. Whenever you’re in the mood for a nice, warm cup of tea, simply brew a strong cup of black tea and add 2 teaspoons of concentrate, stirring well. Give it a taste and adjust the quantity as needed. Cheers!
Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
When it comes to doing some serious writing, sometimes a coffee shop is the best place. They’re usually friendly to writers who want to linger for hours, and it’s the norm to see people with a latte and a laptop. What makes a coffee shop go from good to great in our opinion, however, is the quality of the pastries. For that, Walla Walla’s Colville Street Patisserie is perfect. It is, after all, not just a place for coffee, but a true pastry shop.
Food
We can thank a local winemaker and his wife for telling us about this great place. They raved about the kouign amann (pronounced queen ah-mahn), the salty-sweet, flaky-sticky Breton cake that’s reminiscent of a croissant with its flaky layers, but much more decadent. Other treats worth trying include the apricot danish and the potato, pea, and curry turnover. Any of these would go well with an espresso or cappuccino. Also check out the range of gelato flavors while you’re there, as well as the case of fine desserts perfect for a special event.
Location and Atmosphere
Situated in Downtown Walla Walla, just a block off of Main Street, Colville Street Patisserie is easy to get to, yet boasts a slightly slower pace than a location on the main drag would give it. Though the stream of customers is steady, it’s perfectly acceptable to hunker down at a table with your laptop for a morning writing session.
Writeability and Purchased Presence
Colville Street Patisserie offers exactly what you’d expect from a coffee shop, but with the benefit of excellent pastries. There’s ample seating, and the steady energy of people streaming in and out is perfect for writers looking for a little people-watching and character inspiration. As we mentioned above, it’s a great place to linger. As always, however, be mindful of the Nooks & Cranberries code of conduct: Be considerate to crowds struggling to find a place to sit, and support the local business and order an additional beverage or pastry if you’re going to linger a while (we call this “Purchased Presence”).
Price
Come in with a $10 bill and you’ll likely have plenty of money for a coffee, pastry, and a tip. In that regard, the pricing is typical for coffee shops, only you get a remarkable pastry, and not just a dry, bland, and lusterless one found at many other venues.
Parking
Street parking is easy to come by, or if you’re already downtown it’s within walking distance from virtually anywhere.
Writer’s Tip
Get to know the people working here, and strike up a conversation with the writer sitting next to you. Writing is often a solitary pursuit, and social hubs like this are great ways to get some social interaction. You never know when you’ll meet a new friend or come up with a great new storyline or article!
Find It
40 South Colville Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Website
Where are your favorite places for outdoor inspiration?
I love stories. As a new mom and a writer, I couldn’t wait to introduce my little boy to books. Now my heart swells with joy as I see how he has graduated from chewing on the covers to giggling as he turns the pages and points to the pictures. As I read to him I’m taken back to my childhood with the sweetness of some favorite stories. A mouse hiding a strawberry, a little bear waiting for a goodnight kiss, a curious monkey, a little bunny saying goodnight to the moon, or a boy who becomes king of the wild things.
These stories are simple, sweet and have more in common than just pulling our nostalgic heart strings. I couldn’t help but make some comparisons to see how I might add something to my own writing.
However you feel about children’s books, as a writer they stand as a great reminder that it can be a good thing to scale back to the basics of your story. Here are some tips on plot and structure based on children’s books.
What makes a children’s book a children’s book is the simple concepts, limited characters and usually one main message…oh, and of course lots of pictures!
Several characters, multiple settings, emotional story arcs, messages and themes, layers upon layers of plot and sub plots. Adult reading can sometimes get cumbersome. Here’s a few steps to take it back to the basics:
1. Pick one purpose and stick to it. Kiddos at this age (0 – 3) don’t have the capacity or attention span to follow multiple story lines.
2. Limit your characters. There’s a reason there are only 3 bears. Too many main characters = too hard to follow!
3. Bright, simple colors and lots of pictures! Don’t weigh your story down with text.
4. Everything is black and white. The real world may have grey areas, but not for kids.
5. Bad guys never win.
So here’s what it boils down to, simple plot, simple characters, simple writing. While this may not apply to your current novel (which I assume will have many complex characters and twisty, turny, curvy plots and sub plots), it’s a great way to start the bones of your next story. Before developing your next plot, try outlining it in children’s book form, meaning, giving it a beginning, middle and end and have no more than three characters and one message to start. Once you have the skeleton laid out, you can put meat on his bones with more gown up text. But remember, we all start as babies, maybe it could help to let our stories start the same way!
Why do you write? It’s a simple question, and may seem a bit rhetorical, but I want you to answer it. Knowing your answer may make all the difference when you’re ready to give up. Take a moment and think it through. Be honest. Does your reason look anything like any of these?
Those of us who call ourselves writers have a wonderful gift. Yes, writing can be difficult—sometimes it’s one of the hardest things we can imagine doing—but once the rough patches are over and we have a draft in hand, the rewards are great. We need to remember what drives us to write, plus the positive experiences that will come.
Perhaps you’re a journalist, and no matter how many articles you write, seeing the final draft in published form always gives you a sense of satisfaction—especially if it was a difficult assignment. After carrying the article along from the initial interviews to the final draft, the process is complete when the story is finally laid out in print. Similarly, while writing and producing a major Seattle newscast, I could envision the final product as I wrote, choosing the best soundbites and writing to video. Seeing the finished product on their air (when I had time to turn away from the computer to watch the TV for a minute) with all the pieces in place, was such a treat.
In addition to the satisfaction, I want my words to count for something more than entertainment. When I think of my favorite novels—Les Miserables, Great Expectations, The Great Gatsby, Jane Eyre, to name just a few—they’re great stories, but they also give the reader plenty to think about. When we watch Jean Valjean wrestle with his identity as an escaped convict as he heroically risks his freedom and well-being to protect Cosette, we ask ourselves questions about our own morality and values. Watching Jay, Jake, Daisy, and the rest of the Gatsby party loll around Jazz Age New York, we observe their selfishness and the toll it takes on those around them. The list could go on and on, including fiction and nonfiction, poetry and prose.
What are your reasons for writing?
