We have been assigned to read "6 ways to be a Hemingway level productive badass" by Drake Baer. After completing the reading I can say that I agree with the steps that it lists to become a productive writer.... Like Hemingway! After all, he is a well known and successful writer. The article list the ways to "get the job done." Baer says that "Hemingway, ever pursuing his writerly "juice," would stand as he worked." I can't say that I've ever stood up to write, but I can agree with the fact that I would rather sit and write on paper for my first draft before I move to a typewriter (in his case) or a computer (in mine). He also says that "He quantified his progress" -- and now I really see why we're keeping this blog. My post in Reflection: Week 4 really helped pave the way for my essay. Furthermore, he says that you must have a time that is best for you to write. He "attacked the early hours." I prefer to write at night when the house has calmed down for the day and I can finally focus! "He protected his time....The telephone and visitors are the work destroyers." Being the person that holds the family together and keeps it moving makes being not distracted almost impossible for me, but somehow someway I have to. Lastly Baer says "He paid attention. Observing the world is the first step toward becoming more creative." For me I feel like I need to slow down a little bit. I have so much to do in so little time that I'm always moving so quickly and feel like I do not have time to pay attention to small detail and be observant. I have a one track mind! Maybe that's something that I need to work on.
For this particular assignment there were a few steps that I followed so that I could get the job done. Some helped, Some didn't.
1. Work when the kids are away or asleep! I have no other option. It seems that anytime I sit down to do schoolwork Mariyah is dying of thirst or hunger.
2. Listen to professor Mangini... Just write! I would put the kids to bed and sit down to write, but drew a blank. I am always afraid that I'm doing everything "WRONG". But, when I finally just started writing it really wasn't so bad after all.
3. Set a scene for everything! Use showing and telling scenes. We spent a lot of time working on this. Because I have a hard time paying attention to detail its always hard for me to "paint a picture".
4. Write the first draft by hand! (Easier for editing). I always have and always will do it this way! it just seems so much easier for me!
5. Read over my writing alone and find what I know needs to be fixed. I always like to hear my own criticism first.
6. Ask others to look over my work! I like to know what other people think about my writing.