Ideas for speeches, articles, and books come to us sometimes at the most inopportune times. As a comedian, writer, and author I am in the habit of breaking away in a conversation and immediately writing down what I am thinking or at least the main idea. Of course, people look at me curiously, okay strangely, but what do I care? I am a comedian, a performer, and a wacky broad at times, and people always look at me in strange ways (just as long as they do not touch me or hurt me!)
Most articles and/or books on writing will offer some disciplinary regimen like, ‘write everyday at 5 am when the cock crows on a fall day waving a dead chicken.’ Okay, so it is not exactly stated like that (and I did it only once!)
I suggest that you write, record, or jot down your thoughts, words, or the main idea as YOU see fit. Do what works for YOU! Maybe your best thoughts come when you first wake up in the morning. I know that I am very fertile…with ideas or things I was thinking of before I went to bed. I sleep with a notebook in the bed. Not my husband, but a NOTEBOOK! Seriously! Often, I wake up in the middle of the night, not for lovemakeing but to write in the notebook…without turning on the lights.
I will write the main idea or a trigger word that I can elaborate on later in the day.
Do not think that as a writer you have to follow a writers stereotype or paradigm to get your words out.
I know and have worked with always carry paper to record observations and ideas. They may carry a small tape recorder (when I do this the batteries NEVER work) or a small notebook to record ‘brilliance’ whenever and wherever. The great thing now is that your cell phone can literally do all of these things for you!
I do think you have to write consistently, as you would have to practice with any craft. As gifted as Tiger Woods is, as we would all agree he does practice. Consistent writing determines, uncovers, and refines your writing style as well as the flow of ideas. How you choose to practice your craft of writing is determined by the type of writer you wish to be…serious or hobbyist?
In order to get to your highest level of writing, I would suggest that you consistently read other writers. Even the writers that you do not like. Those readings will further develop your style and allow you to take artistically what you need from other writers (not plagiarism!); but elements of style and expressions that you can form as your own. You cannot for the sake of conversation be, let us say, Adrienne Zurub, the great author. Yet, you LOVE the authenticity (and modesty) of her writing style and seek to incorporate that authenticity in your style. Get it?
So, write consistently. Read other writers, and especially the better writers (New York Times, Salon, The New Yorker, Village Voice, great blogs, and etc.)
Read your idols and then establish yourself stylistically. We are all influenced by the greatness of others that we admire Oh, yeah, do not forget to record those slips of paper. I literally had a mountain (still do) of little slips of paper with ‘wisdoms’ and ideas all over the place. Be organized, do not mimic the disorganization of the great author, Adrienne Zurub. Ciao!
AUTHOR/COMEDIAN/SPEAKER, Adrienne Zurub is a part-time RN on the open heart/heart transplant team at Cleveland Clinic with over twenty-five years of open heart experience. Ms. Zurub is a CNOR (certified nurse operating room) with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a master’s degree in Philosophy as well as her nursing degree.
She is the AUTHOR of ‘Notes From the Mothership ~ The Naked Invisibles, a nonfiction work that incorporates and coalesces elements of her open heart experiences with other aspects of her attentive, and at times randy life, due out 11/2007.
She is a member of Toastmasters, NSAOhio chapter, and an active volunteer with the Cleveland Clinic Speakers Bureau speaking throughout the communities of Greater Cleveland. She is an AKA, and a member of AORN. She trained at the American Comedy Institute in New York City, Second City and with Judy Carter in NYC and California.
She is an Actor and a poet.
http://adriennezurub.typepad.com
http://chasewunderlickpublishers.com.cn
Peep her @ LibraryThing, Facebook, Twitter, and Livejournal.
Tags: authenticity, author, comedians, ideas, styles, The New York Times, wisdoms, writer, Writing
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