Ready, Set, Write!

 

Neil Gaiman gives two opinions on how to write. Just sit down and put one word after another until it's done. Then he qualifies it by saying 'It's that easy, and that hard.' Anyone who's tried it will nod their head in agreement. 

What do you need to do to put that great idea that's been swirling in your head into the printed word on your computer or by hand in a notebook?

You need to stop merely thinking about writing and actually engage your mind and fingers to putting words, one after the other in a printed form. We all procrastinate now and then. Partly because we worry that if we actually write something, it might be a bunch of drivel. Your subconscious tells you that you needn't be concerned if you don't actually write. A cop-out? Yep!

You should set aside time to write. If you're a professional writer, you have a set amount of time to write almost every day. If you're a hobbyist writer, or a part-time scribe, you need to work out a schedule so that each day includes some writing time. 30 minutes, an hour, 2 hours--whatever you can manage in your life. The key is to be consistent as much as you can. There are always going to be interferences, but if you promise yourself to write a certain amount each day, stick to it as much as possible. If you do, you'll create a habit. 

There will always going to be little problems with whatever you write. This part of the story didn't work out like you planned. Another part ended up too sappy. Yet another lacked life. Don't worry about that when you start a new writing project. Keep writing--putting one word after another--until you complete a first draft. Finishing a first draft gives you a sense of accomplishment, even though you know you have more to do.

That 'more' includes setting the first draft aside for several days, then bringing it out and starting the editing and revision process. You might need to continue this process two or three times until you feel satisfied. 

Next, it's time to look for a market that your story might fit. Matching story to markets is not an easy task. It can sometimes become a guessing game. Some are obviously not the correct market for your story, so are easily eliminated. Others are definte while still more are 'maybe' kind of markets. That easy and that hard? Yes!

Submitting what you have written is a part of the writing life, too. An important part if you want to be published. Sometimes you're successful and many times, you aren't. All part of the process.

It appears writing is a mixed bag of easy and hard. If you have a passion for putting words together that people will want to read, it's a little easier. That passion can drive you to keep writing. If you're so-so about wanting to be a writer, you're probably going to find lots of excuses why you aren't going to actually string words together but only think about them. 

Once again, it's up to you! 

Writers Are Artists

The photo today is a lovely wreath that could be used to brighten a winter day or to highlight Valentine’s Day. The artist who created this beauty began with a frame of some kind, then started placing different floral pieces together in a pleasing pattern. Maybe he/she pulled some out and added others. Maybe the artist changed the whole idea he/she had in the beginning. The artist worked on the wreath until it satisfied him/her enough to call it finished. 

The next time you’re at a florist or home decor shop, have a deeper appreciation for what artist created when making a floral wreath.

Writers go through the same process as the person who put the wreath together. We start with an idea—the frame for that wreath. We put words together, then change some of them. We work at arranging those words in the best way we can. We leave our project for a while, then return to edit and revise once more  

The wreath maker is an artist, and so are we. The process is much the same. Both aim for the best product he/she can produce. Writers can feel a real sense of accomplishment with each finished writing project  

 

One Step in the Writing Process

 

People picture a writer at work as one who is madly typing on a keyboard or furiously writing on paper with a pen or pencil. Writer at work? Yes. 

Writers are also at work when their fingers are idle. They might be sitting on the porch sipping lemonade and enjoying the view. Quiet, relaxed. That's what we might see. It's also quite possible that the writer  is pondering a story idea in his/her mind. The thoughts tumble one over the other like acrobats, It's the first step in the writing process.

Another writer is emptying the dishwasher, pulling plates and cups and glasses out and putting them away. A mindless task. It's a fine time to work on a story idea. You can be mulling over story ideas or problem areas of a story you're working on when doing tasks that require no conversation with others. 

A writer on a bus or a plane looks to be sitting quietly. In reality, he/she may be spinning story ideas as the miles go by. One of my favorite times to give thought to story ideas is when I'm ironing

The thought process is a big part of writing. We don't merely sit down at the keyboard and zip out a story. A lot of thought has gone into it before we ever reach that point.  A writer can think about a story for days, or weeks, even months, before ever starting to do the actual writing. I must admit I don't iron very often anymore, but it is certainly a good time for thinking.

A writer on a beach staring at the water could be entertaining one story idea after another. Or perhaps just one. I find that if I have an idea, I tend to stay with that one until it is time to begin the first draft. If I try to think  about too many ideas at the same time, none of them come to fruition. That's me, but maybe another writer can sort out two or three story ideas in their head with no problem. Once again, we do what works best for us.

One problem writers may have is that their mind is working overtime on a story idea when it should be paying attention to whatever is happening in a classroom, at a concert, in church, or when being instructed on the day's job. There are times when writers can give serious thought to what they hope to write and times when they must put it on hold and give their attention to whatever is happening around them. 

A writer probably enjoys going to a coffee shop and sitting alone. Good thinking time! But if a friend shows up and joins him/her, that's the time to put the thought process on hold. We don;'t want to be considered anti-social.

One place I find dangerous to think about story ideas is when I first go to bed. Quiet? Yes. The perfect spot to work out that sticky area in the story you've been working on. Or to begin a new story idea. The problem is that it can be difficult to shut your mind off and go to sleep. If you can give yourself ten minutes to think and then turn over and off to dreamland, fine. But if you are like me, be wary of starting the thought process if you will have trouble coming to a stopping place in a reasonable time. 

Writers do as much thinking about writing as they do actually getting the words down in print or on a piece of paper. It's a multi-step process. Think--think some more--first draft--thnk again--revise and edit--think again--submit. 

Write More Than Once

When I first started writing, I didn't do much revising and/or editing. I felt pretty sure of my grammar and knew I'd said what I wanted to say, so when the first draft came to an end, I foolishly thought it was finished. Off it would go to some editor and it bounced back just as quickly. 

It took the reading of several books on writing, some conferences and lastly, some common sense to convince me to not be in such a hurry. I hated to admit that once I'd written that first draft, I should do more to it. It's my nature to do things in a hurry. Maybe I should blame my mother. When I was a child, her rule was that I had to do whatever household chores she had lined up for me and then I could out to play or read my books. Of course, I learned to do my chores with lightning speed. I also came to realize that I'd better do a decent job or she'd make me do it over again. 

I did finally understand that my first drafts needed to be set aside for a matter of days, or weeks, and then looked at again. Believe me, the first few times I did that, it shocked me to see all that could or should be done to make a better piece of writing. 

I figured out that revisions and editing are as important as writing that first draft. Maybe more so. 

Revision usually makes for a piece of writing that is more clear for the reader. A point can be made without rambling on for paragraphs. Editing catches all those passive verbs, misspelled words and more. 

So, no, you don't have to get it right the first time. In fact, you won't get it right the first time. Some writers revise and edit multiple times. The trick here is to know when you've done enough and to stop. 

Follow these steps in all your writing:

• Write the first draft
• Set it aside for a few days, even weeks
• Revise
• Edit
• Set it aside for a day or two
• Revise and edit once again