A few weeks ago, my beloved friend Christa invited me to participate in a blog hop. I've known Christa online for years now, and she's someone I look up to in many ways, and for many reasons. Hopefully I'll be able to put my arms around her and give her a big hug sooner than later. She's shown me what I can't help but call love in friendship and in such maternal way that whenever we correspond I simply feel held. I hope you hop over and meet her if you haven't already!
When Christa asked if I'd play along with the hop, of course I said yes. I've answered these questions before, but at the time I wasn't writing much and answered in a different way than I will today. These questions can be answered in so many ways, I think it would be incredible to answer them again in another few months and to see what is similar and what has changed. But for today, here are my answers. At the end of this post I'll introduce two {because I couldn't ask just one...}thoughtful blogs that will host next Saturday.
1. What am I working on?
I'm slowly working on the novel I wrote back in November during NaNoWriMo. I'm not sure where I want to take it, or how it will work, or even what to do with it... but it's there! I'm also making notes for another story as it comes together in my head. Daily I try to write a bit in my journal, either from prompts or just free writing what's on my mind.
Also, I'm focusing a bit on creating my Naturally Writing Workshops {the first one is on the 23rd, yikes!} Ideally after the first session I'll have some insights into how to translate the workshop into an online course, which would be more accessible for writers who are not located nearby. The workshops will be focused on free writing, and turning freely written words into more focused pieces.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
While I'm not entirely sure, I will say that what makes my writing unique is that I focus a great deal on making it lyrical. I believe my writing, especially non fiction, has a sort of poetry in prose thing going on. The challenge I have is bringing my authentic writing voice to fiction. It's a gigantic work in progress.
3. Why do I create what I do?
I'm beginning to realize that I create what I'd like to read. Pretty simple. I love to read beautifully written narratives, lyrical and easily digestible. So that's what I write. I create blog posts to document, to share, to connect. I create journal entries to work through whatever is happening in my head. To see what is in my head in writing always brings revelations and new insights. I suppose in some way I write to be able to read, and then to learn. It's always fascinating for me to look back on what I've written, because while I'm in the zone I'm not really sure where the words will go, and on the page they look so different from in my head.
4. How does my writing process work?
When I was writing back in November, my process was really simple. I sat down, and I wrote. Picked up where I left off the day before, and wrote like crazy. Certain times I still do that. For the blog, or in my journal. For some reason I'm more hesitant with fiction.. Maybe because there isn't a deadline like during NaNoWriMo? There's really something to be said for having a goal made public, and knowing others are participating in the same goal, individually. These days I jot down a few sentences when I think of an idea, snippets really. I've connected a few, paragraphs are adding up as the days go on. I'm not feeling a sense of urgency, so I write descriptions of moments or even a few key words in list form. I count all of that as writing, as part of the process. As summer is winding down and we start spending more time at home again, and have more of a daily rhythm, I'm hoping to spend more time on fleshing out ideas.
Thank you for the opportunity to answer these questions, Christa! Looking at them now, I know I just need to get my butt in the chair and write like crazy again!
And now, I'd like to pass along the hop.
Virginia and Kara write jointly at Mea Cuppa. They weave beautiful tales of family, daily life, recipes, natural living, and so much more.
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1. What am I working on?
I'm slowly working on the novel I wrote back in November during NaNoWriMo. I'm not sure where I want to take it, or how it will work, or even what to do with it... but it's there! I'm also making notes for another story as it comes together in my head. Daily I try to write a bit in my journal, either from prompts or just free writing what's on my mind.
Also, I'm focusing a bit on creating my Naturally Writing Workshops {the first one is on the 23rd, yikes!} Ideally after the first session I'll have some insights into how to translate the workshop into an online course, which would be more accessible for writers who are not located nearby. The workshops will be focused on free writing, and turning freely written words into more focused pieces.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
While I'm not entirely sure, I will say that what makes my writing unique is that I focus a great deal on making it lyrical. I believe my writing, especially non fiction, has a sort of poetry in prose thing going on. The challenge I have is bringing my authentic writing voice to fiction. It's a gigantic work in progress.
3. Why do I create what I do?
I'm beginning to realize that I create what I'd like to read. Pretty simple. I love to read beautifully written narratives, lyrical and easily digestible. So that's what I write. I create blog posts to document, to share, to connect. I create journal entries to work through whatever is happening in my head. To see what is in my head in writing always brings revelations and new insights. I suppose in some way I write to be able to read, and then to learn. It's always fascinating for me to look back on what I've written, because while I'm in the zone I'm not really sure where the words will go, and on the page they look so different from in my head.
4. How does my writing process work?
When I was writing back in November, my process was really simple. I sat down, and I wrote. Picked up where I left off the day before, and wrote like crazy. Certain times I still do that. For the blog, or in my journal. For some reason I'm more hesitant with fiction.. Maybe because there isn't a deadline like during NaNoWriMo? There's really something to be said for having a goal made public, and knowing others are participating in the same goal, individually. These days I jot down a few sentences when I think of an idea, snippets really. I've connected a few, paragraphs are adding up as the days go on. I'm not feeling a sense of urgency, so I write descriptions of moments or even a few key words in list form. I count all of that as writing, as part of the process. As summer is winding down and we start spending more time at home again, and have more of a daily rhythm, I'm hoping to spend more time on fleshing out ideas.
Thank you for the opportunity to answer these questions, Christa! Looking at them now, I know I just need to get my butt in the chair and write like crazy again!
And now, I'd like to pass along the hop.
~~~~~~
Virginia and Kara write jointly at Mea Cuppa. They weave beautiful tales of family, daily life, recipes, natural living, and so much more.
"Have a seat and I’ll get you a cuppa coffee… let’s chat." This phrase may be the single best way to describe Kara. She absolutely loves people- her family, her friends, complete strangers, everyone. Kara has an incredible way of approaching things in an off-the-cuff manner that draws you in and makes you say, “yes please,” to java cup number 2 (or 6).
Virginia is wife to her high school sweetheart, mother to three daughters, coping with the intense job of homemaking, and a copious consumer of coffee. When not contemplating life with her co-blogger and friend Kara over at Mea Cuppa, Virginia can be found vigorously reading, cooking, crocheting, and happily enjoying her little slice of life.
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Jennifer Hoppins writes at Imagined, Remembered, Believed. She writes nothing less than her beautiful truth, and comes to the table with warmth and knowledge in her pocket.
Jennifer Hoppins is a writer and home educator living in Greensboro, North Carolina. She writes to give form and expression to the emotional truth of circumstance and change. Celebrating moments of agency against recurring setbacks, closed doors and failed opportunity, she writes to come alive, to recognize debilitating fear, to exercise the power of written ideas, to experience the freedom of acceptance, and to observe openings in life's sometimes densely tangled path. She also writes to encourage and draw out written expression in others through mini lessons, prompts and sample stories. A turning point in her life happened on her wedding day, when both sets of parents (who, living in separate states and had never met) collided in a high speed accident on the way to the chapel. Jennifer writes short stories, poems, a blog and has one often neglected novel in progress (which gets attention on rainy days.)