The Wednesday Morning Breakfast

For the past six or seven months, my middle daughter and I have spent nearly every Wednesday morning at the same local restaurant. We have our breakfast, then open our laptops to settle in for a couple of hours of work. Jordan does homework (she’s a graphic design student at the Art Institute of Vancouver) and I write. These breakfast sessions have yielded a huge amount of creative harvest for both of us. We have worked through concept statements, plot issues, design ideas, and character development. Sometimes we talk a lot and sometimes we say nothing at all. Today is one of those quiet days.

I think the most important thing about these weekly outings is that I have someone to discuss my writing with. Jordan is a ruthless verbal editor. She will tell me straight up if my idea is dumb (and some of them are) or if it’s completely brilliant (I have some of those too). This is usually the place where my ideas bloom or die.

You need a writer friend. You need to have someone you trust to tell you the truth about your writing. Even if it hurts. I don’t recommend that person be a family member because they will find it difficult to be brutally honest. Jordan is an exception. She’s pretty black and white about everything to everyone, and I know she doesn’t withhold appropriate feedback just because I am her mother. I have other writer friends who critique my work, just as I do theirs. But most of all, you just need a writer friend to support you, encourage you, and kick you in the pants when you feel like quitting. Which is nearly every day.

Find a Wednesday morning breakfast buddy and come on down to see Lisa. She’ll give you the very best service as you get some serious writing done.

 Lisa – the best waitress ever!