Ivy Keating's Blog - Posts Tagged "create"
After the Inspiration
The first stage of a project is often the most exciting. But, how many times do we set out to accomplish something and then abandon what we started? After the inspiration, what enables us to reach our goals?
For those that enjoy writing, one of the best moments is the moment of inspiration: when an idea comes to you that you must explore. It can be as simple as a thought. This is what happened to me when I wrote 'Camouflage'. I looked into a forest near my home and wondered, 'what's out there that we haven't discovered', and from that moment, I was gripped with a story.
But goals like writing a book are often difficult to accomplish. Before the energy that comes with inspiration starts to diminish, we must channel some of it into 'focus' and 'commitment'.
Focus has to do with the direction you take. If you have an overall idea of what is required to reach your goal, stay 'focused' on just the next step and you will get there. Put blinders on. Don't get caught up in where you are or how much further you have to go. It's easy to get overwhelmed and abandon a goal if you loose your focus.
Commitment has to do with the time you spend actively pursuing your goal. In the example of writing a book, it will take thousands of hours to complete your work. Sticking to a schedule or committing to a certain number of hours regularly is the only way the task will get done.
Draw upon the energy of what inspires you. It will certainly motivate you to start a project, but it will take focus and commitment to keep the momentum going.
For those that enjoy writing, one of the best moments is the moment of inspiration: when an idea comes to you that you must explore. It can be as simple as a thought. This is what happened to me when I wrote 'Camouflage'. I looked into a forest near my home and wondered, 'what's out there that we haven't discovered', and from that moment, I was gripped with a story.
But goals like writing a book are often difficult to accomplish. Before the energy that comes with inspiration starts to diminish, we must channel some of it into 'focus' and 'commitment'.
Focus has to do with the direction you take. If you have an overall idea of what is required to reach your goal, stay 'focused' on just the next step and you will get there. Put blinders on. Don't get caught up in where you are or how much further you have to go. It's easy to get overwhelmed and abandon a goal if you loose your focus.
Commitment has to do with the time you spend actively pursuing your goal. In the example of writing a book, it will take thousands of hours to complete your work. Sticking to a schedule or committing to a certain number of hours regularly is the only way the task will get done.
Draw upon the energy of what inspires you. It will certainly motivate you to start a project, but it will take focus and commitment to keep the momentum going.
Not Again
Before a book is published, a copy editor can improve the story by enhancing the writing. It's one of the last steps before a book goes to print. I find this interesting because you might think it's the story itself that would face additional scrutiny, but it's actually elements of the written word.
A common mistake is word repetition. I usually catch redundancies when I reread a page. My second book is going through copy-editing now. Even with all the previous edits, the word "like" was overused, and this will have to be corrected. But, why are these repeats a problem?
Books let readers lose themselves in a world created by the author. Most novels will take hours to read, and good writing is the conduit for an entertaining story. Word repetition can be boring and uninspired. It can also be distracting if it garners attention.
When you're writing, challenge yourself to finding new words and different ways to say the same thing. This one fix will benefit not only the structure but also the readability. Remember, not everything bears … repeating.
A common mistake is word repetition. I usually catch redundancies when I reread a page. My second book is going through copy-editing now. Even with all the previous edits, the word "like" was overused, and this will have to be corrected. But, why are these repeats a problem?
Books let readers lose themselves in a world created by the author. Most novels will take hours to read, and good writing is the conduit for an entertaining story. Word repetition can be boring and uninspired. It can also be distracting if it garners attention.
When you're writing, challenge yourself to finding new words and different ways to say the same thing. This one fix will benefit not only the structure but also the readability. Remember, not everything bears … repeating.
Be Critical
Writing is a fantastic way to let your imagination go wild! But, for authors, there's a clinical side to it when it comes to editing your work. In life, it is often helpful to observe a situation without judgement and then proceed mindfully. This means to act on the facts in a thoughtful way. As an author weaves their fiction, they too must become a mindful observer. Difficult choices about what stays and what's edited out must be made.
When creating a novel, remember to stay true to your characters throughout the story. If you're building a cowardly person, you must put them in situations where they act afraid. Never assume a reader will know what's in your head. Always provide enough details for scenes to make sense. And, never write something out of context just because it sounds good. A player will not be shivering in the cold if the scene is set on a balmy day. This seems straightforward, but in the passion of writing it's amazing what might flow through. Just like in life, when emotions run high, we can easily say things out of context.
If you're writing for fun, let your imagination go everywhere. If you're writing for publication, take a critical look at what you've put down and be certain characters are accurately developed and behaviors are congruent with personalities and surroundings. When you learn to edit out passages you once loved, be proud you can take the criticism.
When creating a novel, remember to stay true to your characters throughout the story. If you're building a cowardly person, you must put them in situations where they act afraid. Never assume a reader will know what's in your head. Always provide enough details for scenes to make sense. And, never write something out of context just because it sounds good. A player will not be shivering in the cold if the scene is set on a balmy day. This seems straightforward, but in the passion of writing it's amazing what might flow through. Just like in life, when emotions run high, we can easily say things out of context.
If you're writing for fun, let your imagination go everywhere. If you're writing for publication, take a critical look at what you've put down and be certain characters are accurately developed and behaviors are congruent with personalities and surroundings. When you learn to edit out passages you once loved, be proud you can take the criticism.
