The Magic of Writing by Hand
How journaling helps make the words flow
While Beta Readers have been reading Book 1, I’ve been plugging along on the first draft of Book 2. I’m over halfway done, but writing has been a bit challenging lately.
Despite working on Book 2 every day, progress has been SO slow. I never thought I’d finish Chapter 14. The longer I stared at the unfinished chapter, the harder it became to work on it. I couldn’t figure out why things weren’t flowing.
When in Doubt, Walk It Out
I did what I always do when I have a problem writing: I walk it out.
The other day, on my regular walk on the beach, someone asked me, “Are you walking for a cause?” To which I responded, “No, I’m just walking.”
I’m still flummoxed why someone asked me that. I must have really been marching across that sand. But my response wasn’t entirely true. I don’t just walk. I walk for many reasons—mental health, movement, and problem solving—because I’m the cause. If I didn’t walk, I’d be a total grouch.
As I was problem-solving on my walk, I realized why the writing wasn’t flowing. I wasn’t handwriting the story this time—I was on my laptop. That’s why Chapter 14 was causing me issues.
The Magic of Handwriting
I wrote Book 2 out of order. I knew the beginning and ending of the story, so I wrote the first fourteen and last five chapters by hand months ago. As part of completing the first draft, all I had to do was type and revise them. Now I’m adding what’s in between and connecting everything.
Instead of handwriting the missing ten chapters, I tried to type them directly. I wanted to bypass the step of handwriting them because writing the story by hand, then typing it, then revising it is a lot of work. I thought it’d be faster to skip a step in my writing process. But that wasn’t the case. It only slowed things down.
Accepting My Writing Process
My writing process works as follows: I meditate, then visualize the story. Once the characters are talking in my head, I jot it down. Then I type it up and revise. This is how I wrote the first draft and various drafts of Book 1. This is how I write my blogs!
I was a little ashamed of my writing process because it’s slow. But I had to get over it because my process works. Putting pen to paper allows the ideas and thoughts to flow. I don’t judge and try to fix whatever surfaces because I can improve things later when I type it up.
So that’s what I did. I closed my laptop, grabbed a pen and notebook, and followed my writing process. I’ve written more in the past three days than I did in a week. Although handwriting might seem like more work because I have to complete a tedious step, it ultimately saves me time.
Figuring out my writing process and what works for me was helpful. Heather Demetrios guided me through that. Here’s a link where she explains how to discover yours because everyone's writing process is different.
Book Talk
I don’t typically read historical fiction, and I don’t gravitate towards books about World War II. But I loved A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan.
During WWII, a secret society of witches joins the Allies to fight the Nazis by locating magical objects. Lydia is after a war grimoire, but the Nazis are after it too. They’ve infiltrated her society, and she doesn’t know who she can trust. But she must find it before it is too late!
I love the idea of witches ingrained in the real world. The profluence at the end of each chapter is amazing. I couldn’t put it down.
Conclusion
Writing by hand works really well for me. I’d just forgotten and needed a reminder. If it works well for you, let this be your reminder.
So the next time you’re struggling with something, go for a walk or journal about it. You never know. It might just help.
I found my cause for why I walk. Have you?
Sending you lots of magical manifestations for the Lion’s Gate Portal!
Liza