It’s like the magical mystery tour, but different. The writing process tour involves answering questions about your writing style and practice, and then choosing three other bloggers to participate. Marielle from This Flooded Sky invited me because: a) she has good taste, b) she’s cool like that, and c) she loves my writing. Woo-hoo!
I think she’s great because: a) she’s creative, b) she’s honest and has a unique point of view, and c) because I connect with her. And I think she does a good job of connecting with her readers, too. So, thank you, Marielle!
>>>1. What am I working on?<<<
I have just finished the final edit of my first book {the missing teacher}! Yea! Finally! This project took years and years, and more years because: I didn’t know what I was doing, I had changed my mind regarding what I wanted it to be, and because I had a fear, I think, of finishing it. So, now I’m in the process of reading it for the audio version, and soon I will tackle the book cover and publishing it.
The good thing about my first book taking so long is: I’m ready to be done, I certainly feel like I’ve done everything possible, and I’m less attached to it, which should help me be more objective, but then again, maybe I will end up feeling more attached to it because it took so long to birth. (Was “birth” the right word? Is that too gross?)
I’m also working this blog, of course. I have a lot of ideas which is great because I’ve been writing consistently on this blog since 2009.
>>>2. How does my work differ from others of its type/genre?<<<
{the missing teacher} is about being fired from a Waldorf school, why it happened, how it affected my life, and the ultimate lesson I learned – everyone is a teacher. It’s special in that it is my story, but the remarkable thing is many other people have had similar experiences with teaching, Waldorf, non-profit work, parenting and nursing. It is a bigger story than just me and I believe it’s worth sharing.
I think what makes my work different is my voice. I’m not trying to be vain or uppity here (too late). Seriously, I’m lucky because I’ve gotten constructive feedback and people tell me they like my voice. So, I know it’s a strength.
Life, the Universe and Lani is not the typical Thailand blog. It’s been challenging to find folks within this sub-culture that I connect with because: I am Asian American, many Thailand expats bloggers leave after a short period of time, and I don’t blog about the “nightlife” nor am I, a travel blogger.
I like to write about other things, too. This is counter to those bloggers that believe you should only write within a niche, but writing about writing or being a girl helps me breathe and connect with a wider audience. I am not just where I live.
>>>3. Why do I write what I do?<<<
I write what I do because it’s what’s inside of me. I enjoy writing and believe it’s what I’m meant to do. That being said, I’ve been journaling since I was 13 years old, so it feels natural to write nonfiction. I tried, around that time, to write fiction and it was a disaster. It was fun, but I didn’t have the natural talent to write this way, so I gave up. One day, I’d like to try writing fiction again, but it’s not a priority. I’m far more interested in mastering the short story format. I occasionally write poetry when I’m in a cheeky and creative mood.
>>>4. How does your writing process work?<<<
I’m one of those annoying people that doesn’t get writers block (you will now, my friend, you will now). If I get an idea, I write it down. I don’t trust my memory, so I have these scribbles and notes everywhere. I get inspired, strangely enough, when I do yoga or Pilates. Of course, reading helps me gain ideas, too.
Usually, I just open a word document and start typing. Rarely, do I write a whole blog post in my notebook, but it has been known to happen. What’s interesting is where the writing leads me. Often, what I planned to write turns into something else. I’ve learned to see this as part of the process, but I have to also recognize when the topic has changed, so I need to go back and edit accordingly.
I used to edit very little, (editing just involved a lot of deleting), but now that I have had my grammatical flaws pointed out, I know what I need to look for and work on. Sometimes, I have my b/f reread what I’ve written, but I almost always let my writing rest before publishing. I also don’t publish everything I write. That’s the problem with being a memoirist, I have to consider who might read what I write, and really, sometimes I write garbage that no one needs to see.
Overall, my process is straightforward, and I guess, rather boring. There are no psychedelics or alcohol involved, no drama, no ciggies dangling from wet lips or self-abuse or copying. I write from somewhere between my head and my heart and I feel pretty damn lucky that I know what I love and do it almost every day.
***
Okay, now it’s your turn!
I’m nominating Jolandi from Dreaming in Arabic, a Saffa (South African) blogging from the UAE. She’s such a lucid and poetic writer, and I think her style comes through in her photographs, too. (We’ve even met when she visited Chiang Mai earlier this year! I can honestly say meeting bloggers in person has been nothing, but great fun.)
Mabel Kwong is an Asian Australian who writes about multiculturalism and her experiences as a Chinese-Malay in Australia. I think she’s very good at choosing and talking about topics in an approachable and friendly way. She’s been nominated twice, so you know, she’s that good.
Lastly, I’d like to tag-you’re-it Otter from The Flying Armchair (love her blog name). When I first found her, she was teaching in Taiwan and dreaming about Korea. She still dreams and drools for Korea, but now she’s back in the US and pursuing her passion, art. I thought it would be interesting to tag someone who can talk about their artistic process, too.
I’m looking forward to what these lovely ladies have to say. Thanks again, Marielle. xxoo
Comments create conversations. Let’s talk.