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We’ve been busy, haven’t we? Over the last few weeks we’ve developed our characters, learned how to use our adjectives and adverbs, created our storyboards, set up our office, and even discussed the importance of prayer. So when do we actually write? How about right now?

I know writers who go through all the preparations for creating the perfect book, but never actually write the book. They have a blockage about starting. It isn’t because they are not prepared. Nor is it that they don’t know their stuff. They can quote  from all the instruction  manuals verbatim.  They can whip through a critique of everyone else’s work with the precision of a surgeon. They have read all the classics, and have aced every creative writing course offered online.

These potential authors attend every writing group in their vicinity and ask questions at every library lecture.  These well-versed people used to intimidate me. My heart would flutter as they tore my first draft apart pointing out every missing comma or run-on sentence.  Now I realize that all the preparation may be just a stalling measure. Many of these people never actually sit down and write. Oh, they have plans and endless stories to spin. However, they seldom actually start writing. And if they do write, they never finish what they start. There are certain pitfalls in writing. Be careful that you don’t fall into them. Here are some suggestions to avoid those pitfalls:

  1. Decide that you are going to write five days a week. Yes, just like a real job! I find that writing five days a week allows for those unexpected days when life gets in the way. I can guarantee that there will be at least two days when the unexpected or family obligations prevent you from writing. I take care of my Mom one day a week. I can’t get any writing done that day. I love to visit my grandchildren.  I can’t write that day. So rather then being frustrated, I have factored life’s unexpected in. When a friend calls and needs my help or just my company I can go. Why? because I have already put in four days and have three days to play with. My goal is to work five days. I can’t always do five days but since I have planned it, it happens more often than not.
  2. Decide how many words you want to write each day. I used to struggle with trying to put in specific hours. First, I would wake up at an ungodly hour, guzzle down mugs of coffee and try to get 3-4 hours of writing in before the sun rose. I am a morning person but found that didn’t work. I started to resent my work. I tried to force myself to write in the afternoon, but soon found that life always threw a monkey wrench in the works. Writing at night was impossible and my  laptop was an uncomfortable pillow. So what did I do? Rather then become frustrated and give up, I changed directions. I gave myself a prescribed number of words to write each day.  Be kind to yourself. How about 5oo, 1000,or even 1500 words? These may not seem like much but remember  if you write one page a day, you would have a 365 page novel done in one year. What’s more, I usually surpass my word count goal once I get typing. Changing my focus gave me a sense of accomplishment and the frustration vanished.
  3. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT stop to edit your work as you go! There will be plenty of time to edit and perfect your work when you have finished your first draft. Yes FINISH YOUR FIRST DRAFT!  There is something magical about finishing even a poorly written draft. The sense of accomplishment removes all the pressure.  You will have many more drafts but nothing will ever feel as good as the end of the first draft. Once you are finished you can take each sentence, paragraph, and chapter apart. You can look for that perfect adjective and check that spelling. After the first draft is finished, you will be relaxed enough to see the big picture and nitpick the details.
  4. Work on more than one project at a time. I am currently writing three books. I am always inspired by one of them. While I am working on one, an inspiration hits me about the other. It keeps everything fresh. Oh, at some point I will get inspired to finish one work in a frenzied bout of production. I will never get writer’s block or get ‘stuck’ because I can always turn to another work when that happens. Because I am writing three books, I will probably finish all three within a year. Try it! You’ll be surprised how well it works.

Next week we will study plot creation and structure. This week start counting the words you write each day!

 

Karen Kelly Boyce lives on a farm in N.J. with her retired husband. She is a mother and grandmother. She is the author of “The Sisters of the Last Straw” series published by Tan Books. You can see her work and learn more about her on her website: www,kkboyce.com

One Reply to “Monday’s Writing Tips – Let’s start writing!”

  1. Great suggestions, Karen! I, too, work on several projects and sometimes I am editing one and writing another. If it comes to all editing one book, I try to choose one chapter to save for last, usually the conclusion. Just outline it and then when the rest of the book is drafted and being edited, I find wonderful tie-ins to complete the ending.

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