OMG the whole grammar thing suuuuucks! Only that I read a lot, otherwise I am not sure how I would string my words together for my publication here. I am 49, and what most would consider pretty well educated - two bachelors, two masters, researcher - but still, STILL, to this day, I cannot get the "official rules" of grammar to stay in my head! It is like their refusal to teach it to us also *somehow* put a block on the ability to *actually learn it* later in life. It is bizarre (and shamefully embarrassing). I have a table of grammatical terms etc pinned on my phone, and still, from one use to the next, it may as well be a whole new language for my lack of familiarity. Thanks NSW education dept.
I was recently thinking about my nature in relation to storytelling. I do not perceive myself as a writer, although I have been writing consciously since I was approximately 12 years old. I studied journalism, not literature. I think I am a woman who writes, just as I am also a woman who knits, or a woman who loves. At the beginning I recovered handwriting, on a notebook with white pages, without any lines to distract me, like the blank canvas when I paint with my watercolors. writing by hand has been my salvation. I realized that my stagnation in writing was due to the fact that my brain identified what I wrote on the computer as a finished text, but that when I write by hand my brain identifies it as a draft, allowing me to experiment and make mistakes, without pressure. and of course it is slower! but much more enriching because it allows me to enjoy the process. I never imagined that changing the keyboard for a pen would give me so much happiness and confidence in writing.
The whole zero grammar thing at school......what was that even about??!!
March forward to me finding myself surprisingly successful in my lofty ambitions to apply for a private college in Nth Ireland to study religion & church history (AND being accepted as the first Australian student!! 😮) and arriving overwhelmingly underprepared for English Language.......the spaces in between my knowledge & the curriculum was mammoth to say the least.....
It was a TOUGH GRIND & soooo hard but I got through & even passed!! 🙂
I enjoyed reading your process, Brooke. I also start with paper and pen to let initial ideas flow in a messy way. There's something therapeutic about it. And the self-doubt is real. It's comforting to know that, even as a brilliant writer, you have moments of struggle as well. Thank you for sharing. 🤍
Hey Brooke. I’m catching up on your last few weeks’ posts, I’ve been saving them to read while I’m sitting in bed/on the couch recovering from foot surgery. I also went through school with the no grammar thing, but like you I read a lot so learnt by osmosis. I know when something is right or wrong but no idea how to explain why 🤦♀️ Was always worried I’d get caught out when I used to teach English. Also, I’ve been reading some great middle years novels lately - recommend Runt by Craig Silvey, first animal book ever that didn’t make me cry!! Such a feel good read. Just started Tumbleglass by Kate Constable, it’s a time slip story where the characters slip back to 1999 when their mum was a uni student in a share house. Ha! Always trips me up when I identify more with the mother than the teenage characters!! Have a restful Easter weekend. X
Thank you Brooke! It’s so nice reading about another writer’s journey and process. Like you, I had no official formal writing training but have ended up writing professionally as well (I used to be the editor of Australian Yoga Journal magazine and now do some copywriting and occasional freelance features). I’m 38 so we went through school around the same time too, and I can never remember what an adjective is (or most of the others - unless I really think about it!). I understand the feeling of imposter syndrome that creeps in sometimes - a kid playing dress ups is an accurate analogy. I recently asked chatgpt to critique some of my work - do not recommend haha. Lately I’ve been focusing more on consistency than perfection in my writing and I’ve found that even though it means I sometimes put out shitty work, the practice is helping me to find my voice again after some time away from writing. I’m working on creating a bit more structure in my work moving forward, as lately I tend to just rant and go on tangents (bet you can’t tell from this massive comment!). Anyway - thank you for your honesty, vulnerability and beautifully well thought words. :)
Great post Brooke, interesting to hear your process. I really want to get into daily journalling but struggle with it sometimes. I read a link on one of your previous post talking about list journalling and I'm giving it a go, find it much easier to commit to everyday. Happy Easter and enjoy the break with your kids xx
Very nice post - I think that writing is messy because thinking is messy, if we're honest - and also there is alchemy in scrawling pen on paper!
OMG the whole grammar thing suuuuucks! Only that I read a lot, otherwise I am not sure how I would string my words together for my publication here. I am 49, and what most would consider pretty well educated - two bachelors, two masters, researcher - but still, STILL, to this day, I cannot get the "official rules" of grammar to stay in my head! It is like their refusal to teach it to us also *somehow* put a block on the ability to *actually learn it* later in life. It is bizarre (and shamefully embarrassing). I have a table of grammatical terms etc pinned on my phone, and still, from one use to the next, it may as well be a whole new language for my lack of familiarity. Thanks NSW education dept.
I was recently thinking about my nature in relation to storytelling. I do not perceive myself as a writer, although I have been writing consciously since I was approximately 12 years old. I studied journalism, not literature. I think I am a woman who writes, just as I am also a woman who knits, or a woman who loves. At the beginning I recovered handwriting, on a notebook with white pages, without any lines to distract me, like the blank canvas when I paint with my watercolors. writing by hand has been my salvation. I realized that my stagnation in writing was due to the fact that my brain identified what I wrote on the computer as a finished text, but that when I write by hand my brain identifies it as a draft, allowing me to experiment and make mistakes, without pressure. and of course it is slower! but much more enriching because it allows me to enjoy the process. I never imagined that changing the keyboard for a pen would give me so much happiness and confidence in writing.
The whole zero grammar thing at school......what was that even about??!!
March forward to me finding myself surprisingly successful in my lofty ambitions to apply for a private college in Nth Ireland to study religion & church history (AND being accepted as the first Australian student!! 😮) and arriving overwhelmingly underprepared for English Language.......the spaces in between my knowledge & the curriculum was mammoth to say the least.....
It was a TOUGH GRIND & soooo hard but I got through & even passed!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your writing process with us.
I enjoyed reading your process, Brooke. I also start with paper and pen to let initial ideas flow in a messy way. There's something therapeutic about it. And the self-doubt is real. It's comforting to know that, even as a brilliant writer, you have moments of struggle as well. Thank you for sharing. 🤍
Hey Brooke. I’m catching up on your last few weeks’ posts, I’ve been saving them to read while I’m sitting in bed/on the couch recovering from foot surgery. I also went through school with the no grammar thing, but like you I read a lot so learnt by osmosis. I know when something is right or wrong but no idea how to explain why 🤦♀️ Was always worried I’d get caught out when I used to teach English. Also, I’ve been reading some great middle years novels lately - recommend Runt by Craig Silvey, first animal book ever that didn’t make me cry!! Such a feel good read. Just started Tumbleglass by Kate Constable, it’s a time slip story where the characters slip back to 1999 when their mum was a uni student in a share house. Ha! Always trips me up when I identify more with the mother than the teenage characters!! Have a restful Easter weekend. X
Thank you Brooke! It’s so nice reading about another writer’s journey and process. Like you, I had no official formal writing training but have ended up writing professionally as well (I used to be the editor of Australian Yoga Journal magazine and now do some copywriting and occasional freelance features). I’m 38 so we went through school around the same time too, and I can never remember what an adjective is (or most of the others - unless I really think about it!). I understand the feeling of imposter syndrome that creeps in sometimes - a kid playing dress ups is an accurate analogy. I recently asked chatgpt to critique some of my work - do not recommend haha. Lately I’ve been focusing more on consistency than perfection in my writing and I’ve found that even though it means I sometimes put out shitty work, the practice is helping me to find my voice again after some time away from writing. I’m working on creating a bit more structure in my work moving forward, as lately I tend to just rant and go on tangents (bet you can’t tell from this massive comment!). Anyway - thank you for your honesty, vulnerability and beautifully well thought words. :)
Great post Brooke, interesting to hear your process. I really want to get into daily journalling but struggle with it sometimes. I read a link on one of your previous post talking about list journalling and I'm giving it a go, find it much easier to commit to everyday. Happy Easter and enjoy the break with your kids xx
'I sit tapping away at the keyboard searching for the right rhythm, the most suitable chords and tones'. H. Murakami