My 10 Steps For A Writing Project

How do you approach a new writing project? When inspiration hits, do you sit down at the computer and start tapping away on your keyboard? That old Strike while the iron is hot! adage comes into play here. Or do you have another method?

I doubt that there is any one right way. What works well for one person doesn't do a thing for the next guy. We're all individuals who try to find a method that works best. Here's what works best for me.

If an idea pops into my head for a new personal essay, I don't immediately begin writing. Instead, I let that idea simmer in the back of my mind for days, or even longer. It's there when I'm doing other tasks and when I least expect it, the subject of that new writing project pops into my head. I could be unloading the dishwasher (a job I truly dislike) when a beginning line comes to me. Or I could be walking through the grocery store plucking this and that off the shelves when  the idea of how to use personal experiences comes to me. On one occasion, I was having coffee with a friend and some remark she made triggered a wonderful way to end the new piece of writing.

When these thoughts emerge, bit by bit, I try to jot down notes. Perhaps it will be just a keyword to trigger my memory. Other times, I'll write a whole paragraph of notes. It's all too easy to lose the thought. You've probably all read writing books that urge you to keep a pad and pencil on your nightstand so you can write down something that comes to you in a dream or while lying awake with insomnia. It's probably a good thing to do. When the light dawns, you may have no clue what revelation had come in the night.

Once I have several thoughts on how I'll proceed, I write the first draft. I rather like the term rough draft better because it will definitely not be a smoothly honed, finished product. When I've come to the end of this first effort, I put it in a file and let it sit for a few days. If I go back to start editing right away, I miss many errors, places that need clarifying, or words that should be cut. Days later, those things are much easier to see.

After the rough draft has had time to rest awhile, I edit and revise which often takes longer than the original writing. It's one of the most important steps in the process. I'll read it over when finished and see if I am satisfied or if I think a second edit is needed. Either way, I'll return the piece to its file and wait a few more days.

Upon looking at it again, I'll know if a little more editing is needed or if it's ready to be submitted. That submission might be to my online writing group for a critique. I love to have other eyes on my writing for they see it in a completely different light than I do. If I really feel comfortable with the end product, I'll skip the critique group and start finding a market to submit to. That submission process is the topic for another post.

My 10 steps for a new writing project:

1. Inspiration hits
2. Let the idea simmer in back of my mind
3. Hope for bits and pieces to come to me over days, or even weeks
4. Write them down, or keywords, and save somewhere
5. Write the rough draft
6. File it for several days
7. Edit and Revise
8. File it again for awhile longer
9. Final edit
10. Submission

Have I ever gotten an idea and sat down immediately to work on it? Yes, I have on occasion but I try to use the 10 steps above more often as it usually results in a better piece of writing. As stated at the beginning of this post, different methods work for various people. Give more than one method of writing something new a chance. Then decide which way works best for you.

Why Do We Live With Self-Doubt?

Why do we doubt ourselves? Why do we not have confidence in our abilities as a writer? Or even as a person? Why do we feel like we take two steps back after every one step forward? 

Past experiences: It doesn't take many bad events in our writing life to instill that nasty bit of doubt that leads to a, sometimes, crippling ability to pursue our love of writing. Perhaps a teacher criticized your writing. All too often, we hear of a teacher with a stinging rebuke for what was a real effort for a student. Those words hurled like darts tend to lodge in our subconscious for a very long time. 

My grandmother crocheted beautiful tablecloths, dresser scarves and more. When I was about 9, I stood at her side one afternoon watching her needle dipping in and out. She was sitting on a dining room chair at the table, the sun streaming in the windows. I remember that day as though it happened only yesterday. And why is it etched so clearly in my mind? Because I asked her if she'd teach me how to crochet. Without stopping for even a second, she said, "No. You are much too clumsy to learn this." Crushed before I even got started! I've had a mental block about learning that particular art ever since. It can be the same way if someone tells you that you aren't capable of being a writer. I did learn to do many forms of needlework as an adult and you can continue to learn more in your writing world despite cutting remarks from others.

I once had a friend ask me how I could be a writer. She said, "Writers are people who hole up in a room all alone and have no social life. You're much too social to be a writer." She was right about me being very social but I learned to fit both writing and being with people into my life. 

Negative attitude:  If we have a negative attitude toward other parts of our life, we will probably carry over the same outlook in our writing world. I am grateful that I have developed a positive attitude throughout the many years of my life. It carried over to my writing. I try to see the glass half full. Do I succeed every time? No, but I do for the majority of happenings. I learned long ago that it was silly to put myself down. All it did was make me feel worse and throw cold water on my motivation. Look for the good in every situation first. That can become a habit and it's a good one to acquire. 

Relying on others' remarks:  Make your own assessment. Don't let others put you down. If someone tells you you can't, promise yourself to do whatever it is and show them that, yes, you can. 

When I was in high school, I thought that working in the advertising world would be interesting. Even then, I leaned to the writing world; writing advertising copy really appealed to me. But my dad quickly squelched that idea. "That business is way too competitive for a woman." It was the '50's and my dad was one of the original male chauvinists. I knew better than to argue with him, so I kept quite about my desire. At that time, a girl coming out of high school could aim for three careers--secretary, teacher or nurse. I became a teacher but only for a few years. A good many years went by before I finally pursued my desire to write. 

Believe in yourself first, last and foremost. You can overcome any of the above reasons for self-doubt and lack of confidence. Work on pumping yourself up rather than putting yourself down. Keep any past successes in mind to help motivate you to keep writing and submitting. If you've done it once, you can do it again. Venture out onto that slim branch in your writing world and trust yourself. The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to try. 

A New Year In Your Writing Life

Happy New Year, Happy  Writing

I love December and all it brings but I'm always happy to wave good-bye when January begins. You've probably received a gazillion Happy New Year greetings but let me add mine but for your writing world.

It's a new month, a new year, a new beginning for us with our writing. Yes, we have a lot of history behind us but there is, oh so much, future ahead in this year of 2017. 

It might be too soon to write your goals for this next twelve months but you can certainly begin thinking about what goals you want to pursue. I'm still assessing this past year--what my goals were, how many were accomplished and what I want to do next.

I've started the year by taking an online course to look at myself as a writer, to determine who I am as a writer and where I want to be this year. There are about 200 people signed up for the course. I am a bit fearful that there will be far too much chatter and emails zinging back and forth. Hopefully, it will be a controlled situation. I joined a facebook writing page awhile back and was absolutely inundated with emails from the group. Very few were helping me in my writing life so I backed out of the group in a hurry. 

Some groups are great while others will irritate you no end. Give it a try, however, to find out if it is a manageable group, if it is beneficial to your writing life and if it appeals to you. If it does, that's great. If not, move on in a big hurry. No harm done. Some people love lots of messages from groups piling up in their inbox. I have a feeling that those people don't get a whole lot of writing accomplished. 

One of the lists you might want to consider making soon is a deadline for dates to submit holiday stories of all kinds. You've probably missed it for Valentine's Day of 2017. Those stories should have been subbed in early fall. But you could make it for Easter, Mother's Day and those special days we recognize through the year. It's difficult to write  a Fourth of July story when the wind is howling and the snow piling up in your driveway but writers set their minds to the task and do it. Yesterday, while in church, I started thinking about a Christmas story that I've wanted to write for years but have never gotten it done. I vowed right then and there that this is the year I will write it. And it will happen this month so I can submit it far ahead of time.

Maybe you had more rejections than acceptances this year. Tear that page off and dump it in the nearest trash can. Start thinking positive after you've given yourself a fair and honest assessment as to why you might have had those nasty rejections more often than you would have liked. 

There are many things for writers to consider this month. Take your time, make some lists and do some thinking. We have a whole new year ahead of us with many possibilities. They'll only be possible if you are willing to put your heart and soul into your writing life this year. It's up to you.

Seventeen Questions For Writers

The first time I ran across this quote, I was at one of my online writers' group conferences in Sterling, VA. It was early morning, before the sessions for the day had started. I was in the cabin catching up on email when the quote popped up. Definitely an 'Aha!' moment for me. It's good advice for our writing world and the rest of our lives, too. 

However, there are times when looking back might be of some benefit. We have only one more day left in this year of 2016. It seems to me to be a good year for you and me to look back on our writing life. Do you remember those writing goals you set early last January? How did that turn out? 

A few questions you might ask yourself regarding your writing this year:

• What percentage of my writing goals did I achieve?
• Which goals were complete flops? Why?
• How many submissions did I make?
• How many acceptances did I receive?
• How many unfinished projects do I have? 
• Did I put the right amount of time into writing?
• Did I make the best effort at all times?
• Did I look for motivation or sit and wait for it to hit me over the head?
• Did I read enough about writing?
• Did I read the writing of others on a regular basis?
• Am I as passionate about writing now as I was at the beginning of the year? 
• Was Writer's Block a factor for me
• Was I willing to follow the advice given to me?
• Did I help other writers in any way?
• Was I passionate about writing?
• When rejected, did I look at my work objectively to learn what needed to be improved?
• Do I want to continue writing in 2017?

I hope you answered honestly. Nobody but you will see your answers. The one question that I sincerely wanted all of you to answer yes to is the very last one. If you answered positively to the majority of the questions, you'll surely want to pursue your writing in 2017.

If you had a lot of discouraging answers, perhaps it's time to do some evaluating. If you're willing to work on those problem areas, you will grow as a writer. If not, it's time to reassess your writing world. I don't encourage anyone to just dump the whole process. You obviously wanted to write or you'd never have started. If it meant something to you in the beginning, it's salvageable. But it's up to you. 

It's almost a new year. When you turn the calendar to January on Sunday, it's a new beginning. When I open to page one of a book to read, I'm always filled with the anticipation that the pages beyond will be pleasing to read. I feel the same way about my writing when each new year dawns. I feel motivated to begin strong and I hope you will, too. 

Now that we've checked back into 2016, it's time to look forward. I wish you your best writing year ever in 2017.

Writers Should Take A Look At Football Teams

Photo from Twitter

Yesterday seemed like a very long day. Our beloved Kansas State Wildcats were scheduled to play in the Texas Bowl at 8 p.m. I was busy all day but my mind wandered often to the big game. We would play Texas A&M in Houston. Texas A&M had been picked to win, even though both teams had the same record. 

Our team had lost a few games in the early part of the season but got progressively better as the weeks went on. A couple of the losses were by one point. Oh, how that hurts. And maybe it served to inspire them to work harder and become winners. 

The purple people who cheer the Wildcats had faith that K-State would come out the winner. And they did! The game was close all they way and ended with a score of 33-28. A&M scored first in a very short time. I could sense collective groans from the K-State fans. But our team scored next and then again and kept plugging away until they cinched the win by stopping the other team in the last part of the 4th quarter. I felt a mother's pride in every one of those guys on our team, as well as the coaches. 

I know some of you could care less about football but I grew up with a dad and three brothers so it was either learn to like football or be miserable. I chose to like watching and so did my mom. It's something my husband I do together--go to the games at K-State and watch many on TV. 

So, what does this have to do with the writing world? I think all of us who write could take a lesson from what I've told you about in the first part of today's post. Sometimes, we come very close to being published. We might receive a rejection with an encouraging note from an editor. But close is not what we strive for. We want to get the ball over the goal line and make some points. So, what should we do? 

Same thing this football team did. Up the practice time--your writing time. Put in more time reading about writing and reading other peoples' writing. Pump yourself up emotionally. Use that I-can-do-it method to build your own self-confidence. Football teams have a bevy of coaches. You do, too. Your coaches are the critique groups you belong to, the friends who are a one-on-one help to you, the conferences you attend and the writing reference books you read. All of these help you become a better player--make that writer.

One other big factor is the desire to win if you're a football player. You have to want it so bad you ache inside. To be published is the same for a writer. Every successful writer has to acquire the passion for his/her writing. He/she needs to have the desire to be accepted by editors. The more you feel the need for it, the stronger your will to achieve it and the harder you'll work. 

K-State ended up champions in their final game this year but they aren't done. Their coach has instilled a work ethic in them that means they will start working next week on next year's season. They'll watch film, continue conditioning and more. Writers can't sit back and relax after being published. That's when the writer must get started on a new project, keep doing writing exercises and all the other things that make us better writers. Champions don't quit, they keep plugging away to find the next win. You can, too!

What About This Voice Thing?

Ah yes, the writer's voice. I remember the first time I heard that term. I'd only been writing for a couple of years and had recently found a writing critique partner. She had been writing far longer and had been published. I was in awe of her as I had yet to have anything accepted for publication. Even so, after she read a couple of things I'd written, she agreed to working together.

One afternoon, we sat at my kitchen table while she went over the critique she'd done on a children's story I'd written. I don't remember which story it was. I don't remember the month or the day. I don't remember whether she liked the story or not. But I do remember her comment as she finished. She said, "You have found your voice. That's something some writers don't do for a very long time." 

I wasn't quite sure what she referred to. What was my voice? And I didn't want to show my ignorance by asking her to explain it to me. This occurred before we had google to help us so handily. I thought about her comment for a long time and I watched for the term whenever I read a book about writing. Eventually, I came to understand that my voice in my writing was me! It was the way I spoke, the way I phrased things when I wrote, the way I wrote dialogue and more. My writer's voice is unique to me and me alone. 

Too often, beginning writers try to copy the way famous writers write. If you want to write like Stephen King, you're going to attempt to use many of his techniques, to write in his voice. Big mistake! Copying other writers is not going to bring you fame and fortune. No one is going to know you for who you are. Develop your own voice in writing and as time goes on, readers will begin to recognize it. 

I knew a writer once who could tell a whale of a tale. Excellent storyteller but she used similes on every page until the reader wanted to yell "Stop!" Even so, that was her style of writing and she never did change her voice. She self-published a few books and then I lost track of her. I often wondered if her stories would have been published by a major printer. Sometimes, the voice we use is not always best for our success in the field.

I do think that it is better to have a voice with a problem such as the woman I just mentioned than to have no voice at all or to copy another writer's voice. Susanna Kearsley nailed it in her quote when she said "...You want to sound like you." 

You can google 'writer's voice' and come up with article upon article that will go into more detail than I have here. If you're a bit unsure about the meaning and what to do to develop your own voice, do some reading. Then, let yourself be yourself the next time you write a story, poem or essay. 

Word Usage For Writers

December has been great. You loved all the partying, the shopping, the baking, the family dinners, the programs at church and school. Right? But now you're tired. Bone tired. Still, it's time to get back to your writing world. 

But, if you're writing something new and doing it while you're tired, you risk becoming a lazy writer. Lazy writers use common words and when they want to emphasize them, they pop in a 'very' in front. That will tell my readers that I mean it. My character is not just shy, she's very shy. 'Very' is an adverb that is easily plucked out of thin air and applied with a smack to words like those in the list above. So easy but not the best choice in many cases. 

Look at the words suggested to use in the second column instead of the 'very ____' version. One word instead of two. One stronger word instead of two weaker ones. Stephen King said "The road to hell is paved with adverbs." I'm guessing a reader would not find the word 'very' on many pages of his books. 

How do you train yourself to use the better word instead of the weaker version with 'very' in front? One thing you can do is get in the habit of using (note that you must 'use' it, not decorate a shelf with it)  a thesaurus. There are many in bookstores to be purchased and online for free. One good website on the thesaurus usage will give you lots to think about. It would be well worth your time to check it out on a regular basis. The more you immerse yourself into word choices, the easier it becomes to use better words as you write. 

I'm sure some of you are shaking your head and thinking I don't have time for that. I need to devote all my writing time to writing. Ones who scoff at trying to better their word usage are probably the same ones who think writing exercises are to be flicked away like a pesky fly. All the exercises and reading about writing are what will help you grow as a writer. Set aside a certain amount of time each day, or week, to pursue these beneficial helps. It need not be hours; perhaps 15 minutes each day would still be helpful. We  all know that we fritter away 15 minutes doing other, fairly non-useful things every day. Why not put that 15 minutes to better use? 

Instead of my saying that this post is meant to be 'very helpful,' I could say 'this post is meant to be  

supportive or useful or constructive. 

If you write when you're tired like you probably are right now, go ahead but don't submit that piece right away. Let it simmer a few days, then go back and see what words you can change to be more meaningful. Take our those 'very' words if you have used them. 

As a quick exercise today, study the list above as a beginning to better word usage.