Make Writing Fun Again (and July Reads - Part 2)
The pet project that hit like a lightning bolt, farewell to New England, and the book I couldn't put down (even though I desperately wanted to)
After nearly a month away, we’re wrapping up our final days in Maine and working diligently to cross off the final items on our family to-do list (still on deck: the annual Maine Lobster Festival).
In addition to identifying the best lobster roll in the land, and enjoying long hikes with my family, I’ve been busy working on a writing project - one that started as a fun bonding experience with my daughter but quickly developed a life of its own.
As a writer, setting is hugely inspirational to me. When I was writing Love You Hard, I desperately wanted readers to be able to visualize, smell, and breathe life as it exists in our pocket of Washington, D.C. The novels I’ve worked on for the past few years are also largely driven by setting. So, it makes sense I would find divine inspiration here in Maine, where our month-long exploration has left us deeply enchanted.
A few weeks ago, my daughter and I were waiting for the rain to let up at the lake-front beach club near our camp. This beach club is a relic of another time (nothing fancy - think rusty beach chairs, a scattering of umbrellas, an honor system snack bar), and we started imagining it as the setting of a mystery. Before we knew it, we’d invented a family of sibling detectives and a juicy, adventure-packed plot.
What began as a way to pass the time and stave off boredom, quickly became a thrilling endeavor. Back at home, I suggested we reread some of our favorite A-Z Mysteries, noting the strategic way authors drop clues and plant red herrings (ONCE A TEACHER, ALWAYS A TEACHER). That allowed us to develop a clear outline for our story.
All we had to do was write it.
It’s funny. Despite being an elementary school teacher and devouring countless middle-grade mysteries (growing up my favorites were The Boxcar Children and the Sweet Valley Super Thrillers), adult me never considered taking a stab at one of my own. Every year I derived immense joy from writing “in front” of my students during writer’s workshop, and every year they would beg me to take those writing examples and do something with them - write something meant for them. But I resisted.
Something about this project, however, has been unexpectedly invigorating. Maybe it’s having my favorite 8-year-old as a partner (I write, Rosie edits). Maybe it’s the lack of self-imposed pressure to pen something literary and go all-in on plot. Maybe it’s the fact that as a lifelong lover of mysteries, the contours of such stories are second nature. Intuitively, I can sense the beats, the places where my 8-year-old readers will beg for one more page. And fortunately for me, I have a Rolodex of beta readers. It’s been an utter delight sharing some of these chapters with my favorite young people. Kids, after all, offer the best and most honest criticism.
I got a chill down my spine when I discovered that the legendary Francine Pascal died over the weekend. I’ve mentioned before that the world of Sweet Valley was a completely immersive place for me as a young reader. And while I liked reading before I came to these books, they are responsible for turning me into the voracious reader I am today. It feels so very fitting to have spent this month developing a fun, immersive world of my own.
As with all endeavors, everything connects back to growth mindset and the ways we often surprise ourselves in life. The notion I harbored about the need for serious people to do serious writing neglected an important fact: that reading (and writing) are supposed to be fun.
And we’re a hell of a lot more likely to get to the page when we allow it to be.
Notable July Reads
A few weeks back, I wrote a mid-month review of some of my favorite reads this month. With its creative framework and exceptional writing, North Woods is still living rent-free in my head, but here are a few others I’ve added to the list:
Real Americans by Rachel Khong
Finding Margaret Fuller by Allison Pataki
Leaving by Roxana Robinson (was surprised to find this book ended in Maine!)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (shamefully, I’d never read any of the stories of the OG detective)
And, finally, the book I hate myself for picking up:
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
I was repulsed by Elon’s recent comments regarding his transgender daughter (who says, “You don’t win them all,” in regard to parenting?! Really?!). And I felt a deep compulsion to understand this man’s psychology. Luckily, I didn’t have to get more than 20 pages into Isaacson’s biography before getting answers. Turns out, toxic, narcissistic, deeply insecure men often breed sons in the same vein (I bet you can think of a few other examples). The irony? While Elon claims he hates his father and wants nothing to do with him, Elon’s child is now claiming the same. This is a family that needs intensive therapy, not to mention, lessons in empathy.
No offense to Isaacson, who is a supremely readable writer, but this biography just left me feeling icky.
*You can find all these reads on my Bookshop.org page. Even Elon’s biography, if you must.*
A Boost of Inspiration for Writers
If you loved Gabrielle Zevin’s novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, as much as I did, you’ll definitely want to know how one sits down and pens something so profoundly beautiful. But you may also benefit from learning that success did not arrive like a lightning bolt for this career novelist, and that learning to take the failures and successes in stride is how one sustains a career in the creative arts.
How awesome that you and your daughter are finding such joy and connection with this fun project!
I completely love that you and your creative daughter are on a writing adventure! I loved working with beta readers. 4-8th graders were quite honest with my time travel series. They improved my writing and I learned so much from them.
This also reminds me of when I wrote my first book. My son, Nick, was my first reader when he was in 5th grade. He admonished me for using a not quite a swear word in my young adult book. I told him it was the character, not me! Both my boys provide great ideas and inspiration for my writing.
I look forward to reading your mystery series!