Last year my eight-year-old daughter Abby asked if we could write a story together.
Be still my beating heart…
I’m a work-from-home mom and writer, so naturally I said yes. The deal was that she had to come up with the premise and write the first draft. She immediately wrote out the first chapter.
“Here. You can put this in your computer.” She said, handing me her neatly printed story.
She had written a tale of tiny people the size of a push pin who lived inside of a young girl’s purse. They’d explore and discover while trying not to be discovered by people or eaten by the house cat. It was pretty clever.
I put it in my computer, and then we brainstormed how to out fill the story. Once we agreed on a direction, I went to work filling out the rest. Characters, mystery, emotion, humor… I was quite out of my element.
I’ve never written a chapter book before. I’ve also never had to write with character development in mind or figure out how to develop plot. It was a whole new world.
Now that we’ve completed the book, I’ve come away with some valuable lessons.
Be still my beating heart…
I’m a work-from-home mom and writer, so naturally I said yes. The deal was that she had to come up with the premise and write the first draft. She immediately wrote out the first chapter.
“Here. You can put this in your computer.” She said, handing me her neatly printed story.
She had written a tale of tiny people the size of a push pin who lived inside of a young girl’s purse. They’d explore and discover while trying not to be discovered by people or eaten by the house cat. It was pretty clever.
I put it in my computer, and then we brainstormed how to out fill the story. Once we agreed on a direction, I went to work filling out the rest. Characters, mystery, emotion, humor… I was quite out of my element.
I’ve never written a chapter book before. I’ve also never had to write with character development in mind or figure out how to develop plot. It was a whole new world.
Now that we’ve completed the book, I’ve come away with some valuable lessons.
What I Learned From Writing with My Daughter
There Is No Right Way Or Wrong Way, Just Our Way.
The moment we decided to write the story, there was a big challenge to overcome. We had to decide how much of the story would remain Abby’s original wording, and how much I would add, create, and refine. What would readers think?
I'd noticed some books written by children were 100% the child’s writing and illustrations, the adult’s job had been simply assembling and printing it. Other books seemed a collaboration between child and adult, and the book cover made by an outside illustrator.
I wanted to collaborate – for both me and my daughter to contribute and create – and it was important to me that our debut book be as professional and polished as possible.
Ultimately, there is no hard rule on what is acceptable or what counts as a child-authored book. We simply had to decide what we wanted, and then stand by that choice, even if we might face criticism.
Writing Takes Cold, Hard Determination
Our short, six-chapter book took nearly a year to complete. A year. When I think of how many people boast of writing a full-length book in a matter of weeks, I’m tempted to feel embarrassed.
Writing The Purse People Adventures was (for me) incredibly difficult at first, even though the initial story was handed to me. Mostly, it was slow-going because I was new to writing fiction and didn’t know what on earth I was doing. I’ve often said that I write non-fiction because I have no imagination.
This project definitely put me to the test. I was forced to imagine, and it was brutal sometimes. There were scenes in the first draft where the characters “just stood there, staring at each other wishing something would happen. But it didn’t. So the writer moved on to the next thing that happened.”
That’s an actual quote from a draft chapter.
It was rough going. But, I pressed on. I’d hit a wall and call Abby over to brainstorm with me. If that didn’t work, I’d ask my sister or friends for input. And, if I still couldn’t come up with the dazzling mystery that led a character to a dangerous confrontation with the house cat, I would walk away.
Sometimes a bit of space between a writer and their manuscript is exactly what is needed to come at it with fresh eyes again.
The secret to writing, I’ve learned over the years, is a simple two-step process. Step one: plant butt in chair. Step two: write words.
TWEET THIS
Don’t Limit Yourself
In all my years of writing, I’ve focused on non-fiction. It’s what I read, what I write, what I know. It got to the point where I would say aloud to fellow writers, “I don’t write fiction.”
That label became an obstacle. I had to undo what I’d told myself for years, and open myself to the possibility that I do, in fact, write fiction.
I realized that putting labels on myself like that is actually not helpful. Instead of announcing my self-proclaimed limitations, I’ll practice stating preferences, or better still, saying the thing I don’t do is simply something I haven’t done yet. Suddenly it’s about possibilities and choices, not limitations.
The biggest takeaway from our book writing project has been the pleasant surprise that we were doing much more than writing a book. I was learning about myself and developing new skills. We were discovering a common interest, building relationship, and creating memories.
In all my years of writing, I’ve focused on non-fiction. It’s what I read, what I write, what I know. It got to the point where I would say aloud to fellow writers, “I don’t write fiction.”
That label became an obstacle. I had to undo what I’d told myself for years, and open myself to the possibility that I do, in fact, write fiction.
I realized that putting labels on myself like that is actually not helpful. Instead of announcing my self-proclaimed limitations, I’ll practice stating preferences, or better still, saying the thing I don’t do is simply something I haven’t done yet. Suddenly it’s about possibilities and choices, not limitations.
The biggest takeaway from our book writing project has been the pleasant surprise that we were doing much more than writing a book. I was learning about myself and developing new skills. We were discovering a common interest, building relationship, and creating memories.
|
Our book should be ready any day now! Be the first to know (and get your own free copy!) |
