Writing – Page 2 – nastran andersen

What inspires me

I met a young woman on the plane ride home from Boston last Friday. We gave the cursory greetings as we settled into our seats and for most of the flight she read her book and I wrote a scene for my novel. But during the last 45 minutes we started chatting and dove deep into some personal details with each other in a way that only perfect strangers can do. She noticed I was writing and I shared some about my new journey on that path. I noticed the engagement ring on her left hand and learned about her upcoming wedding. We discussed marriage, family and faith and at one point my eyes even brimmed with tears. Her story, what little I know of it, has stayed with me all week and I found myself reflecting on why I was so inspired by her. A few specific qualities stand out, the same qualities I admire and am so attracted to with my own family and dear friends. There are many categories from which to draw inspiration in this world, but these are the five that impact me in the greatest ways.

by Nastran

Make-believe is fun

One of my favorite things about writing a novel is that I have one-hundred percent creative freedom with what I choose to put into print. The plot lines, the mystery and suspense, the budding romance, scenery, homes and lifestyles, even the clothes people wear and food they eat – all of it is just made up. Sure, imagination is informed by life experiences and real places and things, but by and large I can write whatever I want to write. But of all the components of make-believe, my most favorite part is creating the people. The living, breathing, feeling, emotional, complex characters who are very much like any people we would meet on the street or at work or perhaps members of our families. I’m certain every fiction writer reaches a point in the creation of their their characters that those people become very real to them. I just never knew how much fun it would be.

by Nastran

Things you may never see

There is significant mention of Iran in our media lately – so much controversy surrounding the nuclear deal, sanctions, mullahs and the like. For nearly 40 years the U.S. has had a broken relationship with the country and certainly there is a lot to have concern about with the current regime, so many unanswered questions and a foundation of mistrust. But I don’t want to write about politics or government or nuclear weapons. I am not trying to spark a debate about what is a good deal or a bad deal. Inspired by a friend over lunch conversation, instead I would like to share what I know about the country as a destination and the uniqueness of the people and the culture.

by Nastran

A new lens

I find myself experiencing the world anew since I’ve started writing regularly. My pace has changed; it’s not less productive, just less harried. I notice more details in my surroundings and think of how I would describe wherever I happen to be. I’m more observant not only of sights and sounds, but also smells, tastes and feelings. I study people and their behaviors to a greater extent, the social norms in different settings, and I’ve noticed how very much alike we all are. One could say I’m living every moment. Part of me wonders if I was previously walking around in a fog, so busy and in my own head. Worried about to-do lists or where I’m going next, rather than where I am at that moment. What have I missed??

by Nastran

A summertime short story

The early evening sky gleamed, a uniform silvery blue with flat gray clouds hanging in painted forms like a child’s drawing. The summer sun had not yet set, leaving enough light to see my friends as they sped ahead of me across the lawn, the world draining of color in the disappearing light. It was hot, deep-south hot. The humid air draped us like a heavy curtain, thick and damp with the anticipation of a midnight storm. The nighttime creatures were starting a chorus, crickets and tree frogs chirping their summer melody. The smell of freshly cut grass dusted the air. There was laughter ahead; I watched as my friends played tag, darting in a zig-zag pattern on their way to the creek. I picked up my pace and tried to catch up with the group.

by Nastran

Intention

If one thing is for sure, I cannot be a writer if I don’t actually write. The spreadsheet I’ve created for my writing log is populated with more zeros over the last couple of weeks than I care to see. So I’m focused more than ever on my intentions – why I want to do this, what is important to me, where I choose to spend my time. Merriam-Webster defines intent as “the thing that you plan to do or achieve – an aim or purpose.” For all of my adult life, I have been driven by something that I want to achieve. Sure, there have been times when someone else has set the goal for me or it’s a job I am being paid to do, but for the tasks I finish with an extra push and for the achievements I’m most proud of, the motivation comes from within. The intent is my own.

by Nastran

Reflection

Why do we pause in our lives for reflection when someone has died, or when we’ve reached some milestone like a birthday or certain number of years of something? Why are we not present with each other, with our children, with our family and friends every day? I am as guilty of this as anyone, caught up in work or on my phone or scanning social media… I’m watching my own kids transform before my eyes and find myself making new life decisions, wishing I could retrieve what I might have missed.

by Nastran

Rules

Writing Coach Rule #1 – when crafting a new scene, map it out, start writing and then put it away. DO NOT read what you just wrote, just keep going.

I’ve already broken Rule #1. I could not finish writing today and leave well-enough alone. So when I finished my daily quota (yep, there is a daily word count quota) at 2:34am, I decided I would read it before I sent it to Cheryl for review. And I learned instantly why she told me not to do that. I was sad, I thought my writing was mediocre at best and I really hated how that scene played out. I felt like an amateur and I questioned why I even bothered to pay for this time in the mountains, as if I had any business trying to become an author. So I prayed and asked God to at least help me sleep and try not to feel defeated.

by Nastran

This is the beginning.

I am finally making my dream a reality. For several years I’ve been sitting on a story swirling around in my head and have shared with only a handful of very close family and friends that I actually wanted to write a book. So this week, I arranged time with a writing coach and have started the journey.