Reflections on My Writing Process by Deborah Isabelle

Organization and Inspiration

Deborah Isabelle

My writing process is neither disciplined nor highly organized. Caught up in the demands of daily life, I rarely set aside dedicated time to write. Inspiration often strikes when the internal voices become impossible to ignore, or when a prompting from the Holy Spirit is felt—requests that I have learned are best not denied.

I rarely begin with an outline or a list of key points. Most often, I start writing as I listen to the dictation of these internal voices. When an idea feels especially fragile, I might jot down key points and phrases to help outline my thoughts before they fade away. For this particular piece, I turned ideas over in my mind before putting pen to paper, then transferred the draft to the computer, editing as I went. I continue reading and revising until the flow feels right and I am satisfied that I have expressed everything I intended. During the editing phase, I am more likely to list points and phrases to expand upon.

Timing and Sources of Inspiration

Ideally, I start well before a deadline, allowing ideas to emerge naturally. Inspiration arrives in many forms—sometimes through music, other times through encounters with nature, or from the prose of others, whether in response to their words or the emotions they evoke. As I write this, I am seated on a rooftop patio overlooking the Sea of Cortez, with the sky dotted by a few clouds. Phil Collins’ “Another Day in Paradise” plays in my head, interwoven with memories from the Hulu series “Paradise” featuring Sterling K. Brown.

Writing Tools and Habits

I almost always have a journal with me or nearby. Although typing directly into the computer is more efficient, it can be less productive, as distractions like email or the lure of an online search are ever-present. Typing also tempts me to edit as I go, which can lead to lost thoughts while perfecting a particular sentence. Writing by hand, on the other hand, allows me to give voice to thoughts as they arrive, with the understanding that I can edit later.

Environment and Atmosphere

The background of my writing sessions is often filled with ambient sounds—traffic, birds, and the wind. If I choose intentional background music, it is typically classical or jazz. I do not write with the television on. My preference is to write curled up on the couch, bathed in sunlight streaming through the window. A cup of tea makes this experience even better. Sometimes I write in silence; at other times, I select a specific soundtrack when writing to a particular feeling.

Focus, Revision, and Completion

In general, I tune out the world to focus on the words, ensuring they convey the intended emotion and concept. I revise and reread until the words communicate precisely what I wish to say and bring me back to the feeling I want to capture. I know the writing is finished when it feels complete.

I grew up with two parents who loved to read and shared their love of reading.  They encouraged me to discover the worlds of opportunity that the written word opens up.  I have vivid memories of my mother reading to my brother and me before bedtime.  Later, she and my father encouraged me to create my own stories as I learned to write.  That encouragement continued whether I wrote fiction or essays.  My father proudly shared a piece I wrote on Jesus and rest with his pastor.  I think about my father and the insights he wrote as I continue to write my own.

In thinking about my writing process, I will admit with some chagrin that it is neither disciplined nor particularly organized.  In the midst of my busy life, I rarely make the time to write.  My writing instead frequently comes when the voices in my head become too insistent to ignore or the Holy Spirit puts in a request (these requests, I have learned, are to be denied at my own cost).

I would love to say that I put together an outline or key points before I start.  That is an uncommon occurrence.  In most cases, I just begin writing while listening to the dictation from the voices in my head.  Sometimes when the concept seems more tenuous, I will list key points and phrases, trying to outline the ideas before they disappear.  For this post, I tossed ideas around in my head before I started writing.  After putting pen to paper, literally, I transferred this to the computer, editing as I went

. I read and edit until the flow “feels” right, and I am comfortable that I have said all I need to say. 

It is during this editing process that I am more likely to list key points and phrases to add in and expand upon. In the ideal world, I start well before my deadline to allow time for the ideas to come when they are ready.  Inspiration comes in different ways.  Sometimes it is through music, other times through nature.  Occasionally, it comes through the prose of others, either in direct response or in response to the emotion it evokes.  As I write this, I am sitting on a rooftop patio soaking in views of the Sea of Cortez.  The sky is dotted with a few clouds.  Phil Collins’ song, “Another Day in Paradise,” keeps playing in my head juxtaposed with scenes from the Hulu series “Paradise” with Sterling K. Brown.

On most days, I have a journal with me or nearby.  While typing directly into the computer is more efficient, it is less productive overall.  Instead of focusing on the writing, it is easy to get distracted by other things such as email or the Google rabbit hole. The other difference is that I do more self-editing if I am typing.  When using a pen and paper, I give voice to the thoughts as they come with the knowledge that I can edit later.  With typing, I risk losing thoughts while “perfecting” the one I am writing down (recording/capturing).

With this post, my background music is the ambient noise of traffic, birds chirping, and the wind.  I prefer to write with either classical or jazz music if I have any intentional sound.  I do not write with the television on.  I prefer to curl up on the couch with the warmth of the sun streaming through the window.  If that is accomplished with a nice cup of tea, the experience is even better.  I am just as likely to be writing in silence as to have any music playing in the background.  There are times, specifically when I am writing to a feeling, that I need a specific soundtrack to accompany me. 

In general, I tune out the world around me and focus on the words to make sure that they convey the desired emotion while delivering the intended concept.  I read and edit until the words say that which I want to say and bring me back to the remembered feeling.  In the end, I will know that my writing is in the desired place when it feels finished.