5 Things I Do Before I Start Writing a New Book
While I wait for revisions on Jackson's book from my editor, I'm getting a jump-start on Santiago's story. But before I do that, I need to get into the correct mind-set. Here are five things I do before I start writing the next book.
1. Clean off my desk/writing space. Cluttered surroundings leads to clutter in my mind, and I want to be as clear-thinking as possible when I start a new project.
2. Print out monthly calendars to set goals and track my daily/weekly progress. Using the calendar template in Word, I start with the month I begin writing and end with the month I want to be done with the first draft. Taking into consideration how fast I write, I pencil in weekly word count goals for each of the Fridays, then each day I record my progress. I don't get too uptight if I don't make a daily goal, but I really try to meet my weekly goals. And I try not to be too ambitious either. Overstating how much you think you'll be able to write, and then failing, can have a negative effect on your attitude and confidence. Stretch a tiny bit, but not too much, and the continual success will be exhilarating.
3. Assemble all my tools. Because I plot the specifics of my story as I go (but I'd secretly like to be better organized), I have a plot board on my side table and add ideas on colored Post It notes.
4. Get to know my characters. I use a variety of character worksheets with my favorites being ones I've gotten from classes given by Linnea Sinclair and Cherry Adair. Here's a great set of online worksheets from Erica Ridley, and I've learned a lot about my characters' fears by diagramming/answering the questions posed at The Emotional Toolbox. Don't feel like you have to fill out every question, every box. Trying to fit Cinderella's glass slipper on her stepsister's foot will drive you crazy and shatter the shoe. Sometimes just reading or thinking about an element will spark an idea or get you to consider something you hadn't before.
5. Read a lot. Reading both inside and outside my genre refills my creative tank. I read for pleasure and I read to study technique. Right now, I'm studying how other authors handle chronology/passage of time in their stories and before that, I studied how they used transitions between scenes and chapters. Just because I'm published doesn't mean I'm done learning how to write. <g>
Writers: Do you have any routines before you start writing a new story? Readers: When you start a new project, do you have any routines that help?
1. Clean off my desk/writing space. Cluttered surroundings leads to clutter in my mind, and I want to be as clear-thinking as possible when I start a new project.
2. Print out monthly calendars to set goals and track my daily/weekly progress. Using the calendar template in Word, I start with the month I begin writing and end with the month I want to be done with the first draft. Taking into consideration how fast I write, I pencil in weekly word count goals for each of the Fridays, then each day I record my progress. I don't get too uptight if I don't make a daily goal, but I really try to meet my weekly goals. And I try not to be too ambitious either. Overstating how much you think you'll be able to write, and then failing, can have a negative effect on your attitude and confidence. Stretch a tiny bit, but not too much, and the continual success will be exhilarating.
3. Assemble all my tools. Because I plot the specifics of my story as I go (but I'd secretly like to be better organized), I have a plot board on my side table and add ideas on colored Post It notes. 4. Get to know my characters. I use a variety of character worksheets with my favorites being ones I've gotten from classes given by Linnea Sinclair and Cherry Adair. Here's a great set of online worksheets from Erica Ridley, and I've learned a lot about my characters' fears by diagramming/answering the questions posed at The Emotional Toolbox. Don't feel like you have to fill out every question, every box. Trying to fit Cinderella's glass slipper on her stepsister's foot will drive you crazy and shatter the shoe. Sometimes just reading or thinking about an element will spark an idea or get you to consider something you hadn't before.
5. Read a lot. Reading both inside and outside my genre refills my creative tank. I read for pleasure and I read to study technique. Right now, I'm studying how other authors handle chronology/passage of time in their stories and before that, I studied how they used transitions between scenes and chapters. Just because I'm published doesn't mean I'm done learning how to write. <g>
Writers: Do you have any routines before you start writing a new story? Readers: When you start a new project, do you have any routines that help?
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Natasha
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Sep 19, 2011 12:10PM
This is so interesting, love it!!
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