Blog tour -- translated

(This is the very homemade translation of the blog tour post below. Done in sort of a haste, or at least without too much editing, so please excuse any Swenglish expressions or grammatical mishaps:)

Right... The time has come, amid all the Christmas preparations... You see, it's my honour to be one of the hosts of a Blog tour, created by the writer's coach, fellow blogger and writer Johanna Wistrand as one of the steps following the promotion of her new book "Write the book, 4 weeks of coaching" (blog owner's free translation). This book is, just as it sounds, a four week long programme where you with the help of different writing exercises and through setting certain sub targets, are led toward finishing your very first draft, in which form it may be -- a novel, biography or fact book. "Write the book" is an e-book, and is available through a website, which I will not promote here, since if you're reading this will probably not be interested in buying a Swedish book anyway. On this site, you'll also find Johanna's first book, "Get your writing started" (blog owner's free translation), which is a bit more general, created merely to get you writing, and without any concrete goals. This should work well for anyone who might be getting breathing problems from the mere thought of sailing a whole project ashore...

In any case, what both books have in common, is that they get your creative juices flowing, and in a wonderfully vibrant way at that! Johanna's writing is so warm and empathetic that you both want, and, above all, dare to face your writer's dreams, or (as in my own case), give you the energy to get started again. It's true. During the last few days, I've skimmed through the pages in "Write the book", and am now very determined to get writing again. Certainly not a bad achievement, Johanna, and thank you very much for that!

Now then... Let's get this blog tour going, shall we?

Linda: Welcome to my blog, Johanna!

Johanna: Thank you so much!

Linda: In your book -- or both, actually, even if it's more explicit in "Write the book" -- you mix the pleasure with fun exercises, incentives or praises, with discipline and order, such as writing under time pressure, in a certain time frame or within a certain theme. What do you think it the most important thing in the beginning: pleasure or discipline?

Johanna: I don't really see it as discipline, this with limitations in time or set themes. I see it more as a help to get started with your writing immediately: too big a freedom can block you, just like when you were writing that essay in school, and you were allowed to write about anything, which ended up with you writing nothing at all... Writer and creativity consultant Bengt Renander says this in his latest book "Creativity for life" (Viva, 2008)(blog owner's free translation): mother-in-law's tongue (meaning the plant, and nothing else!) is supposed to like it best in a small pot. This is also true when it comes to creativity. With too loose a structure, you won't create the best foundation. You need something to spurn against. Strict limitations aren't that bad!" So for me, limitations and pleasure may work very well together. On the other side, total freedom can be fun as well: as in the case with NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) where you have one month to write an unplanned novel. I tried that last year, and it was a thrill. It demands some nerves, though -- as you don't have a synopsis or a plan to fall back upon.

Linda: That certainly sounds like a challenge. Speaking of challenges... You've now written to fact books (doesn't strike me as an all too correct epithet, but theoretically speaking, I guess that's what they are). How -- if at all -- did book number two differ in case of making from book number one? Was it easier? More difficult?

Johanna: The first book was a breeze to write, since it was based on my lectures from the course "Get your writing started!" All I had to do was to put the lectures in as chapters, and fill up with a few lines in between, making sure I got a tone that kept up throughout the book. The second book was more difficult; I didn't actually know what it would be about (no discipline or limitations there, to be sure!). I had the title and the cover all worked out, but not much more than that. It was exciting to work like that, though. The book was given the freedom to decide for itself what it should focus on. Turned out to be writer's block ;-) That book took a long time to write (one and a half year, while the first took a few weeks, so I had to wait for it, for a bit.

Linda: Waiting... How long are you really supposed to wait? If you, for example, have read your book and done all the exercises and perhaps tried all other options to try and get started, but nothing happens... Should you give up? Should you ever give up?

Johanna: If you long to write and really want to do it, then you shouldn't give up. Dreams are never to be discarded, are they? You could perhaps, for the time being, settle with thinking that this is not the right time, not the right moment to do so. You may not be ready or receptive for it right now. You could perhaps settle with thinking that "I'll try again later." If you should come to realise that you don't have the urge or energy to write, or the longing for it, that you're merely dreaming about getting the title "author", it may be time to quit (I don't like saying that) and try some other way of expressing your creativity: photography, dancing, painting, acting, music?

Linda: In my early days, I used to fill folder after folder with stories that never was and never will be finished. How important is it to really finish that book you have in your head (and with that I mean creating something reasonably readable, with a beginning and an end)? How important is it to stick to one story when you write?

Johanna: I have several unfinished novels and plays in my drawer, and I carry them with me like unborn babies. Sooner or later I will, for my own sake, finish them, at least the ones I believe in. I went to therapy when I was 22 years old and my therapist "forced" me to finish my stories, and it was such a huge struggle, I was immensely tormented by it! But I did it, and it didn't kill me. Therefore, the answer to your question is that for me, it's important to finish them. How others feel about it, is not for me to answer. I do, however, imagine that it's good for your self esteem to do so. Furthermore, as a bonus, you may actually create something to show to someone else, or to send to a publisher. Unfinished manuscripts will, I fear, end up in the editor's bin rather quickly.

Linda: From one of my acquaintances, I recently got the following words: "Have written yet some more. It's finally starting to feel like a book now, and not just as an idea for a book." What are your thoughts when you hear this?

Johanna: Sounds to me like she's a bit proud and really enjoying her writing, making the dream become reality. Sounds hopeful. I hope she can find the perseverance and courage to put her energy into finish the book as well (like you're doing!). However long it may take.

Linda: Finally... Do you have a question for me?

Johanna: Yes, you send out a feeling of being very focused and dedicated to your writing. When one reads snippets of your texts (I say "snippets" because I have yet to read longer excerpts) and your blog, one gets the feeling that you will reach your goal. Where does this come from, you think? Have you always wanted to be a writer? How do you get started when you want to write, but don't feel inspired? How do you work it when you want to write, but can't find the time (I know you have a family, house, full time job)? And: what are your writing dreams for 2009?

Linda: When I decided to go serious about my ambition to write, I didn't have a network of writers here in Sweden -- and for me, it was important to get a network. I turned my focus abroad, to different writer's forums, where I made contact with English or American writers, renowned, published ones as well as unknown people, just like me. As it is, Anglo-Saxon writers have a slightly different way of viewing their writing in comparison to Swedish (don't get me started on this one...). For them, positive affirmations and concrete goals are something very natural, and they set these without blowing their own horns. They also have a way of regarding their writing as a craft, in which there's always room for improvement, and where you, through mastering the technique, always have a chance of making it. This perception is something I believe is fairly new in Sweden -- which is why I'm very happy when writers like you, Johanna, step in and give every struggling, budding writer the tools and concrete help they need. Writing is no gift from God, where you either can or cannot write. Everyone can write -- it's just a question of how much you are willing to put into it. In any case, this way of looking at writing shaped me. When I was very young, I was also always, never failingly, continuously (almost) writing. More importantly, I was surrounded by people who encouraged me, and believed in me. I was, in other words, already blessed with positive feedback, and I guess this still lingers (and that, I guess, answers the question whether or not I've always wanted to be a writer. Oh yes. But truthfully, I think I've always been one. It's not until now that this has all become a bit clearer)

What I do to write when I don't feel inspired? Discipline!! It's true. If you want to achieve something, you have to fight to get there. It's the same thing with everything, really. If you want to become the best football player ever, you put on your football shoes and get out there on the pitch -- even on the days when you don't feel like it. You drag yourself to the stables in the early morning hours, even though you're cold and tired. You swim your lengths despite the fact that your muscles are aching and you'd rather be with your buddies, chatting away over a cup of coffee. In short, you do what you have to do to maintain your hobby, and your dream. In my case, practically speaking, this has meant gluing myself to the chair and the computer every evening at nine o'clock, until I go to bed. That's how it's been now, for over two years. After a while, it becomes routine, and I think routine is important -- both for my own sake, and my family's. The children sleep around nine o'clock, and the husband knows the deal. This way, there's always room to write, should I want to.

Writing dreams for 2009? I think I have a few. Firstly, I will finish editing Legacy. Then I have a dream to extend my network of writers, so perhaps I'll rejoin my old forums, or look for new ones. Furthermore, I want to find the time to do some research on military history (Swedish 17th-18th century) and the East Indian Company... That could be the start of a new little project, I reckon... And then I definitely have to blog more (but that's perhaps more of a New Year's resolution)

Johanna: Good God, you're some chatterbox, aren't you...

(No, sorry... That's not what she said. Let's start over:)

Johanna: Thank you so much for letting my visit your blog.

Linda: Many thanks! It was a pleasure having you here!

~~~

And now... I -- and I think Johanna along with me -- would like to wish you all a

Merry Christmas

I will see you all in the days between Christmas and New Year's Eve, when it's time to look back at the year that has passed, and gaze toward the year ahead.

And thank you so much, dear English friends, for reading!