How to Start a New Writing Project

I’m feeling restless. Maybe my transitory lifestyle for the vast majority of the last two years has made a permanent alteration to my brain chemistry. But as I’m too broke to travel at the moment, I think I’m ready for my next writing project. I have a couple of ideas percolating, so as I try to narrow it down to a single focus, I thought I’d share some great tips on getting started that I found online.

Do What Excites You — Following your passion is the only way to go. I sometimes worry I’ll always be chasing the breathless feeling I had while writing Her Beautiful Monster . That book came so easily because I was so excited and into the story. None of my ideas are really grabbing me at the moment; is that a sign none of them are going to be my next project?Focus on Research — Maybe I just need to spend some time with each idea via research. Maybe falling down some Internet rabbit holes will inspire some passion. The article perfectly states, “Our mind is an ocean. It takes in whatever you feed into it. Therefore, the more you research what you write, the more organized and collected your mind will get. Watch movies, read the news, read books of different genres, and build credible ideas.” This happened while I was recently working on Lightning Strikes; once I started to research a particular character’s sleep disorder, the plot started to develop on its own. The symptoms of the disorder coupled with the side effects of the medication used to treat the disorder became fertile ground for some interesting plot points that really helped to move the narrative forward. Draft Out Your Work — I’ve already written at length about outlining and how it helps.Just Write — “It doesn’t matter what you write, how you write, and where you write. You just have to get on with it.” AMEN! PREACH!Embrace the Challenge — “You see, writing is never easy. One has to take it as a challenge. Consider it a do-or-die situation where you have to hit the extra mile to churn out a masterpiece. Once you achieve the short milestones, stop for a while and contemplate what you wrote.” Maybe this is where I am. I’ve just finished a novel and have started querying agents. Maybe I need to just relax? “There will be times when no new ideas would strike your head, and you will feel lost.” OH MY GOD, THIS ARTICLE IS SPEAKING TO ME! “But the important thing here is to be headstrong in achieving the challenge. Even if it takes a bit of time to get going. Never lose hope, and always be ready to write when a terrific idea invigorates your soul.”Accept Change — “Be open to change. Every story you read has been a rendition of an older one in some way or another. Art evolves, stories evolve, and sometimes the reworked stories turn out to be masterpieces. Remember one thing; no one can write your book other than you.” Beautiful.

Oddly enough, as I was cleaning out my inbox, I found an email from Writer’s Digest that offered four tips for starting a novel.

Mise En Place — “Instead of avoiding all the heavy thinking and struggling that you might be putting off, you can let the physical world gently lead you into the story.” Maybe I need to go on a Creative Retreat; some place I love with just a pen and a notebook.Make the Marble — By which the author means, research (see above).Strategize — “Make a writing plan and stick to it.” AMEN! PREACH!Start Small — “In other words, you don’t try to write the thing in a few massive sessions, you do it in small, manageable pieces.” I can do that. I just need to get writing.

But what should my next writing project be about? Answer this poll and help a sister out <3

What if I’m not done with Duke and Aurora just yet? What if that’s the origin of this restless, unsatisfied feeling? Should I do some more revising?

Stay tuned…

The post How to Start a New Writing Project appeared first on mandi bean: writer.