Writing Like Annie Dillard

Annie Dillard writes with a unique and powerful voice. She's not afraid to say anything, has incredible powers of observation, and just happens to be famous enough to only take speaking engagements that will, as she quips, "Help put my child through college."*

Why should you want to write like Annie Dillard? Because if you develop a unique and powerful voice and speak clearly on what you see and know, you might be able to say the same thing about how much you get paid for speaking engagements. And you may even make enough money to put your kids through college.

*Apparently, things have changed since she said this. Which is why Dillard notes you can contact her (or not). But you might need to be the President or something to get an answer.

The First (Small) Chapter of L.L. Barkat's New Book Rumors of Water

1 Rumors - How it Begins

I am trying to have a conversation about writing. About how I can't write anymore. Or at least how I can't seem to write anything sustained. My older daughter Sara is trying to listen in, as is her way these days.

"Can you find me some water?" I ask. I've been sitting at this picnic for hours and really could use a cup of something simple to drink. I could also use a few minutes alone with my friend Anne, to work out this question of writing and creativity and what seems to be standing in my way.

Before I can form another thought, Sara is back. "There are rumors of water," she says. "But I couldn't find any."

"Rumors of water," I answer. "Now that's a good book title."

"It could be about you and your daughters," says Anne. "How you're raising them to be so creative."

I turn this thought around in my mind. "I don't feel like I've finished living that enough," I say, knowing this is both true and not true at all.

I have been trying to write while raising my girls. I have been struggling. There are days I feel wildly creative; there are weeks when I feel ground down and completely spent. I am trying to show my girls that creativity is theirs for the taking. Sometimes it seems to be. Sometimes I feel the road is so long they will never get where they're trying to go.

There are so many things standing in my way this morning, I can hardly begin. Yet I've heard there are rumors of water. Maybe that is enough.

Floral Designs by my little girl Sonia, at age 11.

Endorsements...



A few brave writers pull back the curtain to show us their creative process. Annie Dillard did this. So did Hemingway. Now L.L. Barkat has given us a thoroughly modern analysis of writing. Practical, yes, but also a gentle uncovering of the art of being a writer.

Gordon Atkinson, author of Turtles All the Way Down

I love living and breathing in L.L. Barkat's writerly mind. The way she weaves the story of her girls alongside her writing journey is invitational. Her book was a beautiful pause in my day, and it made me ache for a more attentive life.

Mary DeMuth, author of Thin Places: A Memoir

The real beauty of this book is the truth it teaches slant: good and beautiful and honest writing comes from a life that pursues the same. This is not just a book about writing well, it's a book about living well.

Leslie Leyland Fields, author of Surviving the Island of Grace and The Spirit of Food, and columnist for Christianity Today

L.L. Barkat models a vibrant writing life, nourishing the reader with moments infused with meaning. Her words satisfy, like a fragrant cup of Christmas tea.

Ann Kroeker, author of Not So Fast: Slow-Down Solutions for Frenzied Families

Like a few other publishing pioneers, InterVarsity Press is blogging. Yet I notice that many of their posts sit with zero comments. Frankly, this astonishes me.

I could say I'm surprised because they have great posts, which should incite great comments. But this isn't really the issue. To my mind, the issue is that a whole lot of writers are missing a golden opportunity. Where else, besides a blog, could writers get the chance to connect on a regular basis with the people who make book and article decisions?

Okay, I'll answer that question:

1. a writer can spend up to several thousand dollars to go to a conference, to maybe get 15 minutes with an editor. A pricey option indeed, and it doesn't help the writer connect on a regular basis (unless the writer becomes annoying and begins emailing the editor incessantly, which will probably incite the editor... but not to great things)

2. a writer can publish articles in magazines and newspapers (and maybe treat the editor-to-woo to paid subscriptions of these magazines and newspapers); however, this option also requires first being noticed by other editors, a technical difficulty

3. a writer can move next door to the editor and offer to shovel snow (or clear out geckos, depending on the geography). This option has obvious down sides, not the least of which is shoveling snow or clearing out geckos.

Or.... [drum roll here]....

4. a writer could visit an editor's/publishers blog on a regular basis and occasionally make insightful and witty comments. This option is only a problem if a writer lacks the ability to make insightful and witty comments. But then, that might suggest that said writer would be more suited to shoveling snow or...

Anyway, someone is going to say that visiting an editor's or publisher's blog is totally intimidating and completely out of the question. But so, I might add, is trying to woo an editor in 15 minutes or less, while simultaneously trying to ward off the effects of jet lag.

I'd also like to suggest that editors and publishers may actually WANT to meet witty and insightful writers, without committing to 15 minutes of face-to-face time or promising to look at a particular proposal. (If you doubt this, I recommend this New York Times article.)

So why not begin today? Check out these great editors' and publishers' blogs. Happy insightful and witty commenting.

You could spend all year going to conferences, leaving very little time for your own writing. And you could spend loads of money too. Or, you could just go to one of the best Christian writers conferences in the nation:

Laity Lodge Writer's Retreat

Calvin Festival of Faith and Writing

When I wrote the proposal that sold Stone Crossings, I used this informative source...

How to Write a Book Proposal

Here's another link you might find helpful:

Anatomy of a Book Proposal