Should Writing a Book Be Methodical or Mysterious? Maybe Both.
“Let the world burn through you.” ~Ray Bradbury
Do we need to be methodical when writing a book?
Is it possible to write an entire book without a solid story idea? Without a clear plan? Without some sort of outline or guidelines or skeleton?
I’ve been wondering. This process so far, has been surprising. I started out thinking there would be more method behind the process, but it has turned out to be quite mysterious.
In the last week, I’ve written a mere 2,002 words. But almost all 2,002 of those words were unplanned. I know myself, to some extent, and I know my life, as well as I can remember it. So I had some inkling what might unfold in the book. It is memoir, after all.
But on day one, for example, I didn’t realize five days later I would be writing about humor as a coping mechanism, defense mechanism, and learned skill.
If you had asked me what I was going to write a book about before I began, I wouldn’t have told you I’d reflect on how much I laughed as a child. There would have been no way for me to know I would write about one of my favorite professors from undergraduate school.
And who knows if these elements will remain in the end. I can’t be sure yet but I have a feeling the process is a bit mysterious from start to finish.
I have no idea where I’m going with any of it, or how the end product will turn out. But I have a hunch I’m going to learn a great deal about what it takes to write a book, so long as I honor the process. Hopefully, in the end, I will have produced a first draft — sorry as it may be.
Someone read my latest post, Finding My Voice, and said this in response:
“Stop writing the book. Instead, surrender to the book. Clear the mind and allow the book to come through you. You’re just a scribe. Don’t get in the way of the book.” ~White Feather
I responded by saying that, strangely enough, this is how it’s happening whether I like it or not. Though I can acknowledge that I’m not getting into that clear-minded state as much as I should, or would like to. But it does seem to be happening this way, to a certain extent.
I catch myself thinking, every day, what is the point of this book? What am I trying to say? Only to sit down and be redirected. It’s a scary process, but I think I’m onto something. And like I said, it’s kind of exciting.
Now, it might just be that I’m crazy, because I’ve only ever heard of fiction writers talk about writing this way. Is it supposed to work like this for creative nonfiction, too? Does language like “supposed to” even belong in conversations on how to write a book? Probably not.
I am a little crazy, but again, I think I might be moving in a good direction.
I think White Feather is right, too. Though I still can’t be certain I know anything about writing a book. I think this is the way writers must feel, at least the first time they make a go of it.
Others have expressed similar sentiments as White Feather’s. I like how this human said it:
“Let the world burn through you. Throw the prism light, white hot, on paper.” ~Ray Bradbury
I love this image.
I like thinking of myself as a reflective vessel. Throwing prism light onto the paper sounds fun. I’m ready to let the world burn through me.
I’m ready to let go more and let mystery lead the way. I’m sure there comes a time for method.
Lindsay Linegar is a writer living in her home state, California. Her educational background is in International Development (MA), Psychology (BA), and she is certified in Therapeutic Creativity. She currently finds herself thrilled to be a dog walker and yoga student as she works on her first book, based on her three-year adventure in South Sudan. She loves making meaningful connections with humans, wondering at nature, doodling, listening to good music, and more than anything, dancing. You can reach her through email at lindsaylinegar@gmail.com


