Adventurer Scientist Julie Angus on Writing
Rowboat in a Hurricane Tells of Self-Powered Trans-Atlantic Trip
Oct 17, 2008
Suite101 spoke with Julie Angus (nee Julie Wafaei) about adventure, writing, and learning science through direct observation. The motto of Angus Adventures, Julie and Colin's company, is "Learning Through Exploration". Their trip across the Atlantic - rowing a two-person boat - led to Julie's recent book, Rowboat in a Hurricane (Greystone Books, 2008).
Julie is the first woman to row across the Atlantic from mainland to mainland, and the first Canadian woman to row across any ocean.
The book tour for Rowboat started as soon as Julie and Colin finished rowing from northern Scotland to Syria.
Julie's adventures provide amazing material for books, but with such an active life, it might be hard to find the time for something as physically still as writing. Here's what Julie had to say about being a writer.
Julie Angus, Trans-Atlantic Rower, on Being a Writer
Suite101: Julie, what's your writing process?
Julie Angus: For this book, a journey provided the narrative arc, and prior to writing I reviewed my journal to formulate the topics and tales to highlight.
Once I created an outline of each chapter, including key events, reoccurring themes, and character development, I began writing. At that time we were living in an old country house and I thought it would be fitting to write in an outdoor environment. I put a derelict table and chair in the woods and typed most of my manuscript surrounded by hefty cedars and a chattering stream. I would write new material in the morning while fresh, and review and edit in the evenings.
Writers Should Write to Become Better at Writing
Suite101: Do you have any tips for other writers?
Julie Angus: Write, write, write.
Write as much as you can, even when you don’t feel like it. Unlike a regular job, crafting a book is an unstructured process prone to procrastination. If you only put the pen through the slalom course when you feel unfettered vibes of creativity, the job will never be finished. And that’s how you have to look at it, as a job.
Devote a period of time each week to writing and force yourself to put pen to paper. Trust me, your quality of writing will not be significantly diminished even if you’re not fully motivated. Writing is a creative skill that is at whim to our emotions and state of mind, but by creating discipline around it you force your skills to develop.
The Creative Process and Forms of Creative Self-Expression
Suite101: Nature often invokes feelings and impressions that can be very powerful, or simply quite difficult to describe. I'm wondering, besides factual journalistic-style reporting, how do you express yourself? Art? Poetry? Music? Other?
Julie Angus: Unfortunately, I am incredibly untalented when it comes to music and painting. Painting runs in my family; my mother paints in oils and my father with pen and ink, but all my own attempts look like grade two stick figures. I have been playing the cello for a few years but, sadly, off-key Christmas carols are the limit of my repertoire. My favourite expressive pastime is cooking . I love taking my favourite local ingredients - blackberries, salmon, chanterelle mushrooms - and combining them in unique ways. For me the pleasure lies in foraging for the ingredients, either in the forest or the farmer’s market, preparing it and of course eating it.
Julie Angus also talked to Suite101 about Exploring Science by Crossing the Ocean.
