Curing The Grind

Every writer I know speaks of "the grind." It is something we all seem to deal with at one point or another. I suppose, in general terms, the grind is defined as that daily interaction with whatever genre you are wrestling with whether it be a novel, a short story, a poem, a play, and the list goes on. However, I began to think about "the grind" and the unique interactions we must have with this affliction. Writing is certainly an artform, and all artforms are unique to the individual. Logically, "the grind" should be no different.

For me, "the grind" involves inspiration and a willingness to sit down even when the work is not flowing well. Recently, I began working on "something longer." I dare not use the term "novel" due to many failed attempts and poor performances. My attempt to destigmatize the process by simply calling it by another name, for a start, seems to be working so far.

However, a simple name change does not entierly suffice. A horse by any other name is still a . . . as the cliche goes. What I find when writing "something longer" is that I must approach it with a sense of humility and submission. I can only write what is called for in the immediate moment. I have heard other novelists describe how they have written their novels. "I went and wrote the sixth chapter first then wrote the twelfth then the first" and so on. This approach, at least for me, has never worked. I find myself aimlessly meandering through a hodgepodge of potential story lines. In light of this recklessness, I devised a new system that focuses less on plot and more on character. "I need/want to write about this person today." I also focus more on writing in scenes, something advocated by Rick Skwiot, a former teacher of mine. Write in scenes. Write on character. This approach plays toward what I enjoy the most about short story writing as well as a few of my writing strengths. I only hope it will produce a solid and worthwhile manuscript.

I'm positive I am not reinventing the wheel here. (As is apparent by the use of so many cliches in this post!) I am simply revealing and sharing what has worked for me, which is the nature of this blog. So far, this approach is working. The "something longer" is growing in the breadth and scope of its narrative existance. I'm beginning to believe it is a story worth telling, which is ultimately the medicine that cures "the grind" for me.

In the October/November issue of the AWP Writer's Chronicle Cris Mazza's article "Too Much of Moi?" appeared. It is an intriguing article about the fad of the first person narrative and how that point of view choice has become a central figure in the world of contemporary fiction.

I will admit after reading Ms. Mazza's article that I ran for my collection and heaved a sigh of relief to find that the stories were split nearly 50/50 between first and third person with a slight favor toward the third person point of view.

It has always been my contention that point of view is the most important choice a writer makes when constructing any narrative. Where the story is told from determines how the story is presented as well as how it is perceived.