When I speak with other creative types, the mention of an outline seems to create shudders and signs of the cross or other holy gestures to ward off a demon. I try to find the reason that my fellows do such things. Most times, I get told an outline is too stifling to their creative process. I’ve yet to convince them that a modern writer’s outline is nothing like we’re taught to create in school.
I’m sure everyone knows this style of outline, as its what the teachers hammered into our minds:
Title goes here
I. First Chapter heading
A. Concept point 1
1. Support
2. Support
B. Concept point 2
1. Support
2. Support
II. Second chapter...
It’s a very rigid structure. Not easy to break into a story. But it was what everyone was taught an outline was.
Yeah. No.
Here’s another thought. Take a story concept that you’re considering and write out a series of bullet points that you’d like the idea to cover. Maybe add a sub point with snippets of dialogue, or character motivations for that scene.
- John and Jane trapse through the woods.
- Jane wants a new wand for magic school
- John wants Jane
- A wolf descends on John and Jane
- wolf is Jane’s father
- John beans wolf in temple
- They run home, find Jane’s dad with ice pack against temple
Believe it or not, the above is also a type of outline. It’s more open, more free flowing. Its not something that you’re stuck with as you go through the story. How often does the concept and the story match from inception to completion? It shifts, I’m sure. So the outline must shift with it. Suppose the wolf is actually Jane’s mother, or John’s father? That shift can be made.
A writer’s outline is designed to be a tool to assist them with the creation of the story, not a noose to hang them with if they break into a tangent. Yes, some writers do create without an outline. Nothing wrong with that, or with any other method.
You have to use what works best for you.
Showing posts with label beginning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beginning. Show all posts
20 October 2012
23 July 2012
A Writer from Any Stripe
As I read through some of the other posts from the Merry Go Round tour, I note a trend. Many of them wanted to write from an early age. They made up stories and tried to write them as youngsters.
I can say part of that is true for me. I made up stories but I never bothered trying to write them. Sure, I had the Car Wars going in my bedroom, or the fire emergency with my trucks. Those I saw as mine, my play time.
It wasn’t until I reached high school that something about writing really started to grab me. That started with a simple assignment, where I copied my favorite author at the time. Parody and Satire weren’t my strong suit, as became apparent from that project. My writing slacked until the following school year, when a teacher assigned us a daily journal entry for English class. She held no requirement on what the entry had to be, so I could write a paragraph of story each day. It rambled and didn’t go very far, but it was story.
My creative endeavors stopped for about three years, until I got to a composition class in college. There, I had a professor who did both the freshman comp class and the creative writing class. It helped that he sometimes crossed his curriculum between the two classes. He gave us a writing prompt at the beginning of class, challenged us to write a paragraph based on the prompt. My writing impressed him enough that he wanted me to write more. After class, I found a way to expand the story, but when I went to talk to the professor before the next class, I discovered he’d died in a car accident the previous day.
That day was when I truly started writing.
I spent about five years with the semiserious thought process working toward a couple stories, but nothing concrete. I’d completed the story started in class, but it never went anywhere. Refocused in 2000, but continued with the “I write when the muse strikes” commentary. So it was spotty. I finally took my writing seriously in 2005, when I entered my first National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo).
That is my path. I’d love to hear the path of others when it comes to why they write!
---------------------
Today's post was inspired by the topic “Why I became a writer” as part of the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour, http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com/. This ongoing tour allows you, the reader, travel around the world from author's blog to author's blog.
Don’t miss tomorrow’s posting over at: http://suesantore.com/
If you want to get to know nearly twenty other writers, check out the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour: http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com/
I can say part of that is true for me. I made up stories but I never bothered trying to write them. Sure, I had the Car Wars going in my bedroom, or the fire emergency with my trucks. Those I saw as mine, my play time.
It wasn’t until I reached high school that something about writing really started to grab me. That started with a simple assignment, where I copied my favorite author at the time. Parody and Satire weren’t my strong suit, as became apparent from that project. My writing slacked until the following school year, when a teacher assigned us a daily journal entry for English class. She held no requirement on what the entry had to be, so I could write a paragraph of story each day. It rambled and didn’t go very far, but it was story.
My creative endeavors stopped for about three years, until I got to a composition class in college. There, I had a professor who did both the freshman comp class and the creative writing class. It helped that he sometimes crossed his curriculum between the two classes. He gave us a writing prompt at the beginning of class, challenged us to write a paragraph based on the prompt. My writing impressed him enough that he wanted me to write more. After class, I found a way to expand the story, but when I went to talk to the professor before the next class, I discovered he’d died in a car accident the previous day.
That day was when I truly started writing.
I spent about five years with the semiserious thought process working toward a couple stories, but nothing concrete. I’d completed the story started in class, but it never went anywhere. Refocused in 2000, but continued with the “I write when the muse strikes” commentary. So it was spotty. I finally took my writing seriously in 2005, when I entered my first National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo).
That is my path. I’d love to hear the path of others when it comes to why they write!
---------------------
Today's post was inspired by the topic “Why I became a writer” as part of the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour, http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com/. This ongoing tour allows you, the reader, travel around the world from author's blog to author's blog.
Don’t miss tomorrow’s posting over at: http://suesantore.com/
If you want to get to know nearly twenty other writers, check out the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour: http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com/
23 March 2012
The Write Place
Early on, I mentioned finding a place to write. I never addressed it fully, because it is a very personal issue.
Let’s dig a little deeper into what makes a good writing space.
Power or Manual
For some people, they can only write with the keyboard and light of the monitor. Give them pen and paper to watch them squirm with writer’s block. It’s an unpleasant view, let me say. Others work best with the pen, only to transcribe from paper to computer as their first edit pass.
Personally, I’m a cross between the two. I can compose on either computer or paper. I prefer to edit on paper, and transcribe those edits when complete.
Find your best technique to get the most from your writing time. You’re best place to write will be affected by this.
Noise Factor
Something that’s loosely linked to the power issue is noise. When I say noise here, I don’t mean just the cars racing by on the street, the kids fighting in the living room, or the neighbors having a punch out on their front lawn. I refer to all sounds that might effect your writing environment. This includes music and television. I know writers who can’t work unless the room is absolutely silent. They’ve soundproofed a space for their writing. Others sit in busy restaurants with their laptops, sipping coffee and tapping away on their work. Some people need instrumental music, but not music with lyrics.
For me, I can work nearly anywhere. Music can have lyrics or not. Sometimes, I’ll put an inspirational movie in to play while I write. Others times, I’m just me and my chosen writing medium of the day.
It has to create a space where your mind can work.
Interruptions and Distractions
Final thought about your best writing spot – How well does it prevent or accommodate possible interruptions or distractions? Obviously, this goes above and beyond just the basics of noise. Can the kids come drag you away to play tea party or house? Will the spouse talk to you while cooking, and keep you from writing? If your favorite sports team scores, will you stop to cheer? (Guilty party here.)
I’m not suggesting that your writing room need to be a sealed space, sound proofed, with a steel door knocker. Not unless that is what you find the most productive.
Today's post was inspired by the topic “My favorite writing place” as part of the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour, http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com/. This ongoing tour allows you, the reader, travel around the world from author's blog to author's blog.
Don’t miss tomorrow’s posting over at: http://suesantore.com/
If you want to get to know nearly twenty other writers, check out the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour: http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com
Let’s dig a little deeper into what makes a good writing space.
Power or Manual
For some people, they can only write with the keyboard and light of the monitor. Give them pen and paper to watch them squirm with writer’s block. It’s an unpleasant view, let me say. Others work best with the pen, only to transcribe from paper to computer as their first edit pass.
Personally, I’m a cross between the two. I can compose on either computer or paper. I prefer to edit on paper, and transcribe those edits when complete.
Find your best technique to get the most from your writing time. You’re best place to write will be affected by this.
Noise Factor
Something that’s loosely linked to the power issue is noise. When I say noise here, I don’t mean just the cars racing by on the street, the kids fighting in the living room, or the neighbors having a punch out on their front lawn. I refer to all sounds that might effect your writing environment. This includes music and television. I know writers who can’t work unless the room is absolutely silent. They’ve soundproofed a space for their writing. Others sit in busy restaurants with their laptops, sipping coffee and tapping away on their work. Some people need instrumental music, but not music with lyrics.
For me, I can work nearly anywhere. Music can have lyrics or not. Sometimes, I’ll put an inspirational movie in to play while I write. Others times, I’m just me and my chosen writing medium of the day.
It has to create a space where your mind can work.
Interruptions and Distractions
Final thought about your best writing spot – How well does it prevent or accommodate possible interruptions or distractions? Obviously, this goes above and beyond just the basics of noise. Can the kids come drag you away to play tea party or house? Will the spouse talk to you while cooking, and keep you from writing? If your favorite sports team scores, will you stop to cheer? (Guilty party here.)
I’m not suggesting that your writing room need to be a sealed space, sound proofed, with a steel door knocker. Not unless that is what you find the most productive.
Today's post was inspired by the topic “My favorite writing place” as part of the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour, http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com/. This ongoing tour allows you, the reader, travel around the world from author's blog to author's blog.
Don’t miss tomorrow’s posting over at: http://suesantore.com/
If you want to get to know nearly twenty other writers, check out the Merry-Go-Round Blog Tour: http://merrygoroundtour.blogspot.com
03 March 2012
Resolve to Build Goals
It’s the beginning of March. The weather has been screwy but we still have a nice campfire and hot cocoa to drink as we chat. Pull up a log and grab a mug.
Today, I wanted to discuss New Years Resolutions.
I bet you’ve had one to become an author.
How are you doing on that one?
Made any progress on it?
How can you track progress with something as nebulous as “Become an author?”
Okay, so that extracts a confession.
I had “Become an author” on my Resolution list for almost 10 years. I’d sit and write, maybe track my page count. I didn’t establish any true direction to fulfilling my resolution. Finally, about the end of 2005, after having worked through my first National Novel Writing Month, I realized I needed to get serious if I wanted to make the resolution a reality.
Resolutions became a forgotten thing when the New Year rolled around. It took me three months of sitting and looking at what I wanted to be resolutions. I broke them down. I shoved their ideas into boxes then shook them around. What I ended with was a list of measurable goals that I could point to and show progress. When the progress became visible, I found the path became clearer for me.
Let’s find that clearer path together by establishing a goal for yourself. Remember: Everything that follows is advice and not intended as Holy Grail lore.
To properly establish a goal, first you have to know what works best for your tracking needs. Daily tracking doesn’t work well for me, but it might for you. Additionally, consider if you’re offering a more public tracking of this goal. Will you update others on Facebook or a blog regarding your progress? How often do you want to reveal that to your audience? These two numbers don’t have to be the same. Consider, you might track your writing weekly, but only update your writing status on Facebook once a month or once a quarter.
Now that we’ve found how we’re tracking our writing, now we need to figure out what we want to track. What number means the most to your personal accomplishment daemon to make you feel progress? Some people track pages. Some get more specific and track words (like me.) Others may track larger blocks, like chapters.
Starting off, try not to track something so large and nebulous it becomes like our original dilemma. In other words, don’t say a novel a month when you first begin. When you’re just getting rolling, you’ll be tempted to place a large burden on the goal. Maybe, 7,000 words a week or 120 pages a month or 5 novels for the year.
Please don’t do this.
If you do nothing but write, with no other responsibilities, it might be possible. However, I don’t recommend it. With that pace, burn out definitely becomes visible. Then we have to work you from a writer’s block, breaking the chisels on the concrete at your feet. It won’t be pleasant.
Start small. Give yourself an achievable goal. If it falls quickly and painlessly, at the next review, increase it. Keep increasing it until it becomes difficult to achieve, but not impossible.
My final word of advice – Don’t lose sight of the fun you could have writing just because you’ve established a goal. Otherwise, everything might be lost.
Today, I wanted to discuss New Years Resolutions.
I bet you’ve had one to become an author.
How are you doing on that one?
Made any progress on it?
How can you track progress with something as nebulous as “Become an author?”
Okay, so that extracts a confession.
I had “Become an author” on my Resolution list for almost 10 years. I’d sit and write, maybe track my page count. I didn’t establish any true direction to fulfilling my resolution. Finally, about the end of 2005, after having worked through my first National Novel Writing Month, I realized I needed to get serious if I wanted to make the resolution a reality.
Resolutions became a forgotten thing when the New Year rolled around. It took me three months of sitting and looking at what I wanted to be resolutions. I broke them down. I shoved their ideas into boxes then shook them around. What I ended with was a list of measurable goals that I could point to and show progress. When the progress became visible, I found the path became clearer for me.
Let’s find that clearer path together by establishing a goal for yourself. Remember: Everything that follows is advice and not intended as Holy Grail lore.
To properly establish a goal, first you have to know what works best for your tracking needs. Daily tracking doesn’t work well for me, but it might for you. Additionally, consider if you’re offering a more public tracking of this goal. Will you update others on Facebook or a blog regarding your progress? How often do you want to reveal that to your audience? These two numbers don’t have to be the same. Consider, you might track your writing weekly, but only update your writing status on Facebook once a month or once a quarter.
Now that we’ve found how we’re tracking our writing, now we need to figure out what we want to track. What number means the most to your personal accomplishment daemon to make you feel progress? Some people track pages. Some get more specific and track words (like me.) Others may track larger blocks, like chapters.
Starting off, try not to track something so large and nebulous it becomes like our original dilemma. In other words, don’t say a novel a month when you first begin. When you’re just getting rolling, you’ll be tempted to place a large burden on the goal. Maybe, 7,000 words a week or 120 pages a month or 5 novels for the year.
Please don’t do this.
If you do nothing but write, with no other responsibilities, it might be possible. However, I don’t recommend it. With that pace, burn out definitely becomes visible. Then we have to work you from a writer’s block, breaking the chisels on the concrete at your feet. It won’t be pleasant.
Start small. Give yourself an achievable goal. If it falls quickly and painlessly, at the next review, increase it. Keep increasing it until it becomes difficult to achieve, but not impossible.
My final word of advice – Don’t lose sight of the fun you could have writing just because you’ve established a goal. Otherwise, everything might be lost.
12 March 2011
A Gathering of Ideas
Okay, so we’ve gotten into the habit of writing. We found a good spot, a good time, where we can concentrate on the page and put the words forth from our brain to the paper or computer screen. That first idea is moving right along. Characters seem to almost talk to us as we write. The Muse broke from her chains of educational restriction and she’s stretched her wings to allow your imagination to flow.
As such, our mental door receives a knock when we sit down to write.
This is a new character, a new story idea. It’s something shiny and new. Wait a minute! The previous idea isn’t complete yet! What do we do?
This is where pundits in the field differ in opinions and where your true journey gains its first hurdle. Listen to your fellow writers, but also listen to yourself, as it’s your journey, not theirs.
From my experience, this point gives you choices. These choices base themselves on what works best for you, the writer. I’m going to touch on three, but it covers a whole spectrum between the three. You’re first choice is to grab that clean piece of paper, or open a new document in the word processor, and begin writing that new idea. Keep going until the idea won’t flow any more. A second choice is to write the idea’s concepts and basics out, but continue writing the first idea until you complete it. The final choice is to ignore the new idea entirely, maintaining just one writing project at a time.
Each choice offers their positives and negatives. It’s why I said this is the first hurdle. Within your mind, you know which works best for you and your personal organization. Let’s look at each one a little bit.
Choice one has us just begin the new idea. Let’s look at a few concepts about this. We don’t lose the idea. The idea rolls from the pen or fingers, like a shiny new car off the lot of a dealership. We write new words. If each session, we constantly start new ideas, the old ideas start to tarnish, to fester, and they may never reach completed status. Characters from the other ideas will look hurt, may not want to work with you and your Muse. However, this is just my thoughts, and you may be different. Complete the idea each session, this doesn’t become problematic.
Choice two offers a middle of the road solution. Here’s a few concepts to consider for this choice. Again, we don’t lose the idea. You can develop the idea better, as you have concepts and characters. List the research of what you want to accomplish. It may lead to a stronger piece, one better than the first idea. It may not. From your concept sketch, you may find that the idea is crap and trash it. It might need more time to develop until you feel ready for it, or until more details come to you.
Choice three hits the opposite extreme, with completely ignoring the idea. It allows you to concentrate on the idea that you’ve already started. The present characters work well with you and your writing. You’ve lost the new shiny idea. It may never come back to your mind. If you run into a wall with the present writing, you can’t switch to the idea you chose to leave behind. It’s your choice on how to proceed.
No one can say that any one choice is right.
I know writers that have four drawer legal sized filing cabinets filled with story ideas. Others have spiral notebooks with quick jotted notes about this concept, or that character, or overheard dialogue that sparked something and encouraged their Muse. Still others, many started files on their computer. Personally, I have a little of all three, with files of ideas, many computer files, as well as quick jotted notes.
Your personal organization will dictate your best approach to new ideas. For those that already write, I'd love to hear what your approach is.
As such, our mental door receives a knock when we sit down to write.
This is a new character, a new story idea. It’s something shiny and new. Wait a minute! The previous idea isn’t complete yet! What do we do?
This is where pundits in the field differ in opinions and where your true journey gains its first hurdle. Listen to your fellow writers, but also listen to yourself, as it’s your journey, not theirs.
From my experience, this point gives you choices. These choices base themselves on what works best for you, the writer. I’m going to touch on three, but it covers a whole spectrum between the three. You’re first choice is to grab that clean piece of paper, or open a new document in the word processor, and begin writing that new idea. Keep going until the idea won’t flow any more. A second choice is to write the idea’s concepts and basics out, but continue writing the first idea until you complete it. The final choice is to ignore the new idea entirely, maintaining just one writing project at a time.
Each choice offers their positives and negatives. It’s why I said this is the first hurdle. Within your mind, you know which works best for you and your personal organization. Let’s look at each one a little bit.
Choice one has us just begin the new idea. Let’s look at a few concepts about this. We don’t lose the idea. The idea rolls from the pen or fingers, like a shiny new car off the lot of a dealership. We write new words. If each session, we constantly start new ideas, the old ideas start to tarnish, to fester, and they may never reach completed status. Characters from the other ideas will look hurt, may not want to work with you and your Muse. However, this is just my thoughts, and you may be different. Complete the idea each session, this doesn’t become problematic.
Choice two offers a middle of the road solution. Here’s a few concepts to consider for this choice. Again, we don’t lose the idea. You can develop the idea better, as you have concepts and characters. List the research of what you want to accomplish. It may lead to a stronger piece, one better than the first idea. It may not. From your concept sketch, you may find that the idea is crap and trash it. It might need more time to develop until you feel ready for it, or until more details come to you.
Choice three hits the opposite extreme, with completely ignoring the idea. It allows you to concentrate on the idea that you’ve already started. The present characters work well with you and your writing. You’ve lost the new shiny idea. It may never come back to your mind. If you run into a wall with the present writing, you can’t switch to the idea you chose to leave behind. It’s your choice on how to proceed.
No one can say that any one choice is right.
I know writers that have four drawer legal sized filing cabinets filled with story ideas. Others have spiral notebooks with quick jotted notes about this concept, or that character, or overheard dialogue that sparked something and encouraged their Muse. Still others, many started files on their computer. Personally, I have a little of all three, with files of ideas, many computer files, as well as quick jotted notes.
Your personal organization will dictate your best approach to new ideas. For those that already write, I'd love to hear what your approach is.
12 February 2011
What Type of Writer are you?
It’s time to examine some portions of a writing life. I’m guessing if you’re reading this blog, that you have perused numerous writing guides, blogs, and other matter on writing. Notice I said books on writing are guides. This is important to note, as they can give you pointers on your journey, but they cannot BE your journey.
Let’s continue looking at the beginning. Ask yourself this question:
What type of writer are you?
This is not asking what genre you write. I find that doesn’t affect your ability to write as much as the type of writer that you are. The medium you use to write (pen and paper or computer screen and keyboard) also doesn’t matter to this question. I’m looking for information regarding your writing journey. If I asked this of other writers, I might hear answers like weekend scribbler, daily pounder, or muse-inspired creative-type. Realize that not one of these answers can be wrong.
I see a light bulb. Yes, you can actually breaks nicely into two questions. ‘When do you write?’ and ‘What is your writing process?’
If you look at the question or its break down and still can’t answer it, let me see if I can offer some tips to help answer it. How? With more questions, of course!
When do you do your best writing?
a. Morning when everyone else sleeps?
b. At night after everyone is in bed?
c. Middle of the day with your energy at its peak?
d. Some other time?
e. Do you sit and write every day?
f. Can you only write when an idea hits you?
g. Do you only find time to sit and write on specific days, but when you get that time, you’re ultra productive?
Oh dear! I’ve unnerved you again. I realize that sounds intimidating. It’s not meant to sound that way. It shows that I’ve found my groove and know what best works for my journey. It doesn’t mean that what I do is what you must do. I offer tips and guidance.
Last post, I suggested just sitting down to write. During the last few weeks, I wanted you just to develop the habit. Now, you want to look at the habit you developed. Find what worked best from your attempts to write. Did the TV always distract you in the evening? That’s probably not a good time for you to write. Kids, pets, or other household chores keep you from your page? Perhaps finding a better time, when those distractions aren’t around will help. I know writers who work best after dark, with only the light of the monitor and the sound of their keys.
I’m not going to say writing every day is wrong. However, you need to find your time to write. Some people work well writing every day, just going to their computer, sitting down, and writing. Not everyone does. Some people need to recharge their creative batteries after a while. I know I do.
Over the next few weeks, continue to sit and write, but watch when you work best. Try to position your writing time so that you get the maximum benefit.
I’d love to hear how people answer my question. Feel free to comment with what type of writer you are.
Let’s continue looking at the beginning. Ask yourself this question:
What type of writer are you?
This is not asking what genre you write. I find that doesn’t affect your ability to write as much as the type of writer that you are. The medium you use to write (pen and paper or computer screen and keyboard) also doesn’t matter to this question. I’m looking for information regarding your writing journey. If I asked this of other writers, I might hear answers like weekend scribbler, daily pounder, or muse-inspired creative-type. Realize that not one of these answers can be wrong.
I see a light bulb. Yes, you can actually breaks nicely into two questions. ‘When do you write?’ and ‘What is your writing process?’
If you look at the question or its break down and still can’t answer it, let me see if I can offer some tips to help answer it. How? With more questions, of course!
b. At night after everyone is in bed?
c. Middle of the day with your energy at its peak?
d. Some other time?
f. Can you only write when an idea hits you?
g. Do you only find time to sit and write on specific days, but when you get that time, you’re ultra productive?
Oh dear! I’ve unnerved you again. I realize that sounds intimidating. It’s not meant to sound that way. It shows that I’ve found my groove and know what best works for my journey. It doesn’t mean that what I do is what you must do. I offer tips and guidance.
Last post, I suggested just sitting down to write. During the last few weeks, I wanted you just to develop the habit. Now, you want to look at the habit you developed. Find what worked best from your attempts to write. Did the TV always distract you in the evening? That’s probably not a good time for you to write. Kids, pets, or other household chores keep you from your page? Perhaps finding a better time, when those distractions aren’t around will help. I know writers who work best after dark, with only the light of the monitor and the sound of their keys.
I’m not going to say writing every day is wrong. However, you need to find your time to write. Some people work well writing every day, just going to their computer, sitting down, and writing. Not everyone does. Some people need to recharge their creative batteries after a while. I know I do.
Over the next few weeks, continue to sit and write, but watch when you work best. Try to position your writing time so that you get the maximum benefit.
I’d love to hear how people answer my question. Feel free to comment with what type of writer you are.
08 January 2011
Pick up the Pen and Write
When I first got started writing, I heard all sorts of numbers on what one needed to do in order to be a published writer. A big one said to write 1000 words a day. One source said write 10 pages a day (which works out to 2500 words a day if you figure 250 words per page.) Another source suggested counting lines of text, such that you needed to write at least sixty lines a day (two pages of college ruled paper a day, single sided.) After listening to all these different numbers, my head spun. I read books regarding the subject, and they offered the same points. Then I realized what the most important point they all tried to make was.
You have to write.
I’ve talked to people who have had this great story idea. Great! Then I learn that they are talking all about their idea, but never putting the idea on paper. If I asked them when they’d sit and write the idea down, they’d claim they have no talent, or that they had no time. Ideas are good for writers, only if they make use of said ideas.
Back during the start of my writing journey, I felt intimidated by the blank page. Required numbers ran past my eyes instead of my writing ideas. The requirements of all those words, lines, or pages hid the words from my ability to put them to a page. I would go for weeks, sometimes months, without ever placing a word on the page. Because I knew that writing was a solitary occupation, I listened and read. After years, I found a candle in the darkness and gained perspective. It hit me finally that I never made the writing journey mine. I tried to fit my personality into the mold of someone else’s plot and plan. Since I wasn’t a ghost writer, this didn’t work for me.
This biggest secret of any writer is that they write. Some writers complain about the time they spend advertising their published books, the time it takes to send out their submissions. Their complaint is because it drags them away from their writing. Most writers get into the field because they enjoy putting the words on the paper.
When you start on your journey, do not expect to have the prolific output of Stephen King or Kevin J Anderson. They have been at it longer than I have and they developed a system that works for them. The big thing you need to do is to write.
Open a notebook, start a file in your word processor. Begin your story.
Don’t worry about how many words you write that first session, or for the first three weeks after that. Just keep writing. Once you’ve gone three weeks, you’ll develop the habit of writing. During those three weeks, try to work at the same time, the same place. If you have a place and it doesn’t allow the writing to flow, find a new place. With this technique, you’ll have days where you fill pages on pages of writing. Sometimes, you may only write five words.
That’s fine, you wrote something and that is the most important part.
You have to write.
I’ve talked to people who have had this great story idea. Great! Then I learn that they are talking all about their idea, but never putting the idea on paper. If I asked them when they’d sit and write the idea down, they’d claim they have no talent, or that they had no time. Ideas are good for writers, only if they make use of said ideas.
Back during the start of my writing journey, I felt intimidated by the blank page. Required numbers ran past my eyes instead of my writing ideas. The requirements of all those words, lines, or pages hid the words from my ability to put them to a page. I would go for weeks, sometimes months, without ever placing a word on the page. Because I knew that writing was a solitary occupation, I listened and read. After years, I found a candle in the darkness and gained perspective. It hit me finally that I never made the writing journey mine. I tried to fit my personality into the mold of someone else’s plot and plan. Since I wasn’t a ghost writer, this didn’t work for me.
This biggest secret of any writer is that they write. Some writers complain about the time they spend advertising their published books, the time it takes to send out their submissions. Their complaint is because it drags them away from their writing. Most writers get into the field because they enjoy putting the words on the paper.
When you start on your journey, do not expect to have the prolific output of Stephen King or Kevin J Anderson. They have been at it longer than I have and they developed a system that works for them. The big thing you need to do is to write.
Open a notebook, start a file in your word processor. Begin your story.
Don’t worry about how many words you write that first session, or for the first three weeks after that. Just keep writing. Once you’ve gone three weeks, you’ll develop the habit of writing. During those three weeks, try to work at the same time, the same place. If you have a place and it doesn’t allow the writing to flow, find a new place. With this technique, you’ll have days where you fill pages on pages of writing. Sometimes, you may only write five words.
That’s fine, you wrote something and that is the most important part.
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