We asked our most active member from this competition (42 comments so far…) to share with us his perspective on the writing process. Here are his thoughts:
———————–
Alone In A Crowd
The single notes of an isolated guitar penetrate the silence in search of a voice to accompany it. Billy Squier’s charismatic voice seductively alters single notes into power chords when he belts out:
Lonely is the night
When you find yourself alone
Your demons come to light
And your mind is not your own
Lonely is the night
When there’s no one left to call
You feel the time is right
Say the writings on the wall
And then bringing the once isolated idea into fruition is the rhythm section with its crashing symbols, thundering drums, and bluesy bass line.
Welcome to the “lonely” world of the writer.
Writing is considered a lonely and isolated occupation. Generally, the writer sits at his computer and types away in solitude. This is true to a degree; however, there is an extraordinary amount of interaction that happens behind the scenes when a writer is away from his computer. This is where a writer grows and develops his skills even more through mentors and other writers.
Mentors are necessary for every occupation in order to develop the skills needed to become the best a person can be. For writers, this is not only necessary, but also vital. The knowledge passed down from a writing mentor can help make the difference between swimming against the tide for years while struggling to find their way, or listening to their suggestions, incorporating the techniques and ideas, and developing your skills faster then imagined.
A writer receives the credit for a finished piece whether it is a novel, a television series, or a movie; however, there are actually so many other hands involved behind the scenes helping to craft and shape your work into the finished product.
I have been fortunate enough to have some very talented and amazing mentors, most with enough credentials to choke a horse. Nancy McKinley, J. Michael Lennon, David Carren, Kaylie Jones, Ken Vose, Ross Klavan, and Michael Mailer have all been instrumental in helping me develop into a better writer then when they first encountered me in the MA/MFA Creative Writing program at Wilkes University. Without every one of these mentors, at different stages in my studies, I would not be enjoying the fruits of my labor as much. They are vital to my success. But that’s not all.
By being a part of a creative writing program I was introduced to many talented writers who were looking to achieve the same thing I was. My classmates were there to give honest and open feedback that helped me develop into a better writer. Because of the harsh criticism and critiquing skills of Tom Borthwick, Joe Bomba, and James McCabe, the series I created, MAGNOLIA, far exceeds my original conception. And this is the very reason these three incredible writers are each writing episodes of MAGNOLIA themselves.
By combining the talents of my writing partners, our mentors, and the skills we developed from an intensive creative writing program, we have achieved our goals of becoming better writers, together. We may sit solo behind our computers pounding away on the keys, but it is the collective group effort that brings each and every one of our projects to life. Sometimes the critiques can be crushing to an ego, but in the end, it’s not about ego. It’s about becoming the best writer you can and presenting the best piece possible.
When you find yourself alone one night typing the next great American novel, put on Billy Squier’s Lonely is the Night and send your script to friends, family, other writers, and a mentor. I guarantee you will be a much better writer in the end and not so lonely.
