Writing Advice

The best writing advice I’ve heard is to sit down and write. It doesn’t matter whether it’s good or bad; the important thing is to write.

In my attempt to finish the first book by the end of the year, I set a monthly word count goal for myself. As a result, my drafting is far ahead of my editing. When I open a chapter to revise and polish, I’m sometimes surprised by how good the writing is. There’s a good level of tension, the dialogue is interesting, and it’s a well-told story. Most mornings though, I open a draft and stare at the blinking cursor wondering what made me think I could be a writer.

Sometimes I’m motivated by the fact that the writing matters so much to me. Other times, I’m paralyzed by how much it matters. I want the work to be a tribute to my grandma, which means that it must be excellent.

Then I remember that a writer writes. I stay in the chair and get a little closer. 

Whatever is True: Part 3

As I’ve asked family members to share the stories they remember from Grandma, I’ve heard many variations of the same sentiment. It can be summed up with the following statements from two different uncles.

“Keep in mind these are my memories from when I was young. They may have morphed in my own mind through the years.”

“I do not mind giving whatever I can but you must remember that memories fade with time, so my answers may not be entirely correct or at least biased in my direction.”

I've come to the conclusion that the way we remember people and events shapes the effect they have on us; and that makes the stories worth writing. While I want to be accurate where I can, I'm more concerned that the stories resonate or ring true. I’m grateful that people trust me with their memories and are willing to risk inaccuracy to help me find what is true.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Whatever is True: Part Two

Baby Brother

A story is only as good as its conflict. This fact can make Grandma’s cheerful version of history difficult to write well. Fortunately, she has a surviving brother who has been gracious enough to share his memories and even gave me a copy of his memoir. Even though he lived in the same house and shared the same community, the characters in his accounts are chockfull of malice and envy. Injustices go uncorrected and life for a child was harsh.

Finally! Here were the depression stories of the history books! By incorporating his perspective into Grandma’s narratives, I can remain faithful to the firsthand accounts, but avoid flat characters and boring stories.

Whatever is True: Part 1

For the current volume, I’m focusing on stories of Grandma’s early childhood, from 1924-1935. One reader I shared a few first drafts with was critical of the stories for being too rose-tinted. This was the Great Depression, after all, and geographically speaking, right on the edge of the Dust Bowl. Life was hard and no child could be so flawless. Clearly, you’re writing through the lens of an adoring granddaughter rather than an objective historian.

The thing is, I learned how horrible those times were in books, not from Grandma’s stories. Her accounts focused the on the ways family, humor, and cleverness helped overcome problems. That’s what I want my children to learn from these stories. Accurate or not, I believe they are true. 

Cornbread for Supper

Grandma wrote a few of her commonly used recipes on the inside of the cabinet door.

The name of the evening meal is a common source of confusion between generations. For Grandma, dinner was the noontime meal and supper was the evening one. Dinner was the biggest meal of the day when men would come in from working and need enough meat and potatoes to get them through the rest of their labor. Supper was simple. Peanut butter and crackers, a bowl of Post Toasties, cornbread and sweet milk.