Writing at Monk's in Dubuque.
A few people have asked me about how I write, from beginning to end. Most of what I write about starts in my journal. I try to write three pages per day, as suggested in The Artist's Way. I don't always succeed, but the goal of three pages pushes me beyond simply reporting the day's activities---"Got up. Washed. Went to bed." Once I've whipped out the start in my journal, I type it into my computer. I use Dropbox to store my writing so that it is available on all my computers (office, home, upstairs, etc.) Then I start revising. And revising.
Many of you know that I've been working with Andrew Jones for about a year to improve my writing. It has been wonderful. Never before in my life have I taken the time or had the opportunity to have someone reread my work and make suggestions multiple times. Some things we've worked on have been through 18 drafts. Maybe that doesn't sound like fun to you, but I love it. I read The Talent Code last years, and one of the big takeaways is that talent is developed, not born. That development requires focused practice, which comes with motivation, persistence, and good coaching.
Whether I'll be a good writer remains to be seen, but I have no doubt I'll be better than I am. One of my inspirations is Loren Eiseley. He was a scientist and educator. He didn't start writing books until he was 50 but produced outstanding work whose importance has lasted. If you get a chance to read The Immense Journey, I recommend it highly. I read it when I was 19 and an English major on my first geology trip out West. Life-changing.
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