How To Write
I'm taking a page out of the Huffington Posts's book this morning. Using a provocative title to get you to read on. ;) Am I actually going to tell you how to write? Probably not. I'm going to give you a lot of contradictory advice on getting your writing done. Follow it all. Do what works. (See? That's sort of how this whole post is going to be.)
1. Write Every DayAs writers we hear this advice every day. That's because it's good advice. In their parting words at the end of WriteOnCon, more than a few authors encouraged writers to write every day. In an article in Writer's Digest a best selling author insisted that making a goal and sticking to it made you a better writer. So true. So, to be absolutely redundant, pick a word count (even if it's 100) and do it. Every day.
2. Write When You CanI'm such a hypocrite. With my *new* responsibilities as a contract editor, some days writing just doesn't happen. I refuse to guilt myself over this considering I have so many other things to feel guilty about. I think about my writing with longing on those days, but I don't worry over it. There's no point. I can't do anything about it. Neither can you.
3. Write Through Writer's BlockIf that scene, that page, that sentence, THAT WHOLE FREAKIN' NOVEL is holding you back -- sit your butt down in a chair and write through it. Even if you hate every word. You can go back and machete it all later. Just write.
4. Don't Force Yourself To Write Through Writer's BlockAre you sure I'm crazy? I am. Don't worry. Sometimes writing through it just doesn't happen. Get up. Take a walk. Read a book. Watch a movie. Clean your kitchen. Then come back and write. But do write through it at some point. Seriously.
5. Have a Word War or SomethingOne of my writer friends on twitter and I often compete for virtual chocolate. We sit down for half and hour and race to see who gets the most words. It makes us accountable. It makes me write stupid words just to get words on the page and beat her because I'm competitive like that. Sometimes I go back, laugh at those stupid words, and revise. Sometimes I really like it. So have word wars. Have someone who holds you accountable. It really does help.
And with that valuable, super helpful advice, go forth and write.
1. Write Every DayAs writers we hear this advice every day. That's because it's good advice. In their parting words at the end of WriteOnCon, more than a few authors encouraged writers to write every day. In an article in Writer's Digest a best selling author insisted that making a goal and sticking to it made you a better writer. So true. So, to be absolutely redundant, pick a word count (even if it's 100) and do it. Every day.
2. Write When You CanI'm such a hypocrite. With my *new* responsibilities as a contract editor, some days writing just doesn't happen. I refuse to guilt myself over this considering I have so many other things to feel guilty about. I think about my writing with longing on those days, but I don't worry over it. There's no point. I can't do anything about it. Neither can you.
3. Write Through Writer's BlockIf that scene, that page, that sentence, THAT WHOLE FREAKIN' NOVEL is holding you back -- sit your butt down in a chair and write through it. Even if you hate every word. You can go back and machete it all later. Just write.
4. Don't Force Yourself To Write Through Writer's BlockAre you sure I'm crazy? I am. Don't worry. Sometimes writing through it just doesn't happen. Get up. Take a walk. Read a book. Watch a movie. Clean your kitchen. Then come back and write. But do write through it at some point. Seriously.
5. Have a Word War or SomethingOne of my writer friends on twitter and I often compete for virtual chocolate. We sit down for half and hour and race to see who gets the most words. It makes us accountable. It makes me write stupid words just to get words on the page and beat her because I'm competitive like that. Sometimes I go back, laugh at those stupid words, and revise. Sometimes I really like it. So have word wars. Have someone who holds you accountable. It really does help.
And with that valuable, super helpful advice, go forth and write.
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