For those unfamiliar with Flannery or who’d like a refresher, see the ever-handy Wikipedia for a brief introduction.
This week’s installment of friendly insight from Flannery brings us to p. 188 of her wonderful letters, The Habit of Being. In this letter to “A,” we find Flannery advising against writing for the sake of mere exercise:
“Experiment but for heaven sakes don’t go writing exercises. You will never be interested in anything that is just an exercise and there is no reason you should,” she says. “Don’t do anything that you are not interested in and that don’t have a promise of being whole.”
(Note: Flannery is known for not always using grammatically correct language, and in this book, that language is preserved as written.)
In the same paragraph, she also advises against plotting: “You would probably do just as well to get that plot busines out of your head and start simply with a character or anything that you can make come alive. When you have a character he will create his own situation and his situation will suggest some kind of resolution as you get into it.”
I don’t think Flannery is saying, if you are a plotter, to quite plotting, and that if you find writing exercises helpful in prompting your creative juices, you ought to quit doing them. Context and the main point need always be considered.
What sticks out to me in her advice are these words: “whole” in the first and “come alive” in the second.
To me, blogs fall under the exercise umbrella, and yet I see them as part of the whole of the bigger picture of my writing; thus, they are not a waste of time. But if I were writing something, a novel perhaps, with the idea that the first 300 pages were just for practice, then that might be a waste. Because why make it a dress rehearsal when the actors and audience are already forming? And I think that’s what Flannery is advising against. “If we’re going to do this thing, then let’s get the show on the road. Let’s make it count.”
I also hear her saying this: Life is short. Tackle those projects with which you are most passionate. When you tap into those works, your writing will come alive. And when it does for you, it will for others as well.
How to make your writing come alive? Consider what stirs your heart. Think on those things, and let them breathe life into your writing, whether it be your characters or the stories you’re tackling.
I wish you a writing week filled with purposeful writing that connects to the whole in some way, and that you will write something — even if it’s just a sentence or paragraph — that feels charged with life-giving energy.
Q4U: What are your thoughts on Flannery’s advice?
These are inspiring words today, Roxane. Both from you and from Ms. O’Connor. (I’ve never read anything of hers yet, but have heard many wonderful things. Bono, of U2 fame [one of my fave bands], is often quoting something of hers.) I needed the reminder to write what I’m passionate about. It’s so true that life is short; I don’t want to waste it writing what I *think* I should write (which usually stems from thinking I should write others want to hear), but rather, I want to follow what I feel in my heart that God wants me to write!
Great & encouraging post… thanks. 🙂
Great advice. All that effort might as well be going somewhere. And, yes, when I come alive in my writing, others follow suit. You should see all the life energy happening at rehearsals. It’s a blast!
It’s wonderful to (finally!) see a writer expressing the way I feel about my writing. I can’t write just to write. It feels like a waste of time. It was only when I found a reason to blog (the journey of motherhood) that I could write consistently. So often, I see authors’ quotes saying, write just to write, but that doesn’t work for me. Flannery O’Connor’s been on my to-read list for a long time. Maybe this is the place to start. Fun fact: I knew a girl named Flannery O’Connor in college. For real.
You’ve blessed me friend with your words! Thank you- I know I just need to tackle it and do it… Anne Lamott sort of tackles writing the same way … I am a little ways into her “Bird by Bird” writing book. But thank you for introducing me to Flannery in this way!
You have done an amazing job of keeping up with both blogging and commenting. I am sure things will continue to sort themselves out as needed- but you are doing a fabulous job and I so love reading you in the paper!!
Flannery O’Connor is one of my favorite writers. Anything she says is good advice. I find it is easier for me to write when I leave the technical and social interaction aside for a while. It clears my head.
Lindsay, that is great. I love the name Flannery. If I were to have another girl, I think that’s what I’d name her. It’s pretty and creative and gutsy. 🙂
Vicky, thanks for your vote of confidence friend. I’ve been thinking about you today. I’m not reading as much as I’d like but doing my best. Your blog is a favorite hangout.
Sage, thanks for stopping by! You’re right. You should see how many dog-ears are in the book I’m reading of her letters. It’s quite a sight. 🙂
Mary, excited for you! Keep going!
Barb, I hope this will inspire you to read her. She was so insightful for someone so relatively young.