Writing into the Dark: How to Write a Novel without an Outline

by Dean Wesley Smith

And if you automatically copyedit everything you read, go get help. And I mean real help, professional help, because you have lost all ability to see a story and are trapped by the little black marks on the paper. You can’t even begin to be a writer from that mindset, let alone a creative writer, let alone write into the dark.

Do not give yourself permission to fix anything later. Do not give yourself permission to write sloppy. You are writing a book. Period. When you are done writing, you release the manuscript to your first reader and proofreader and move on to the next story you want to tell.

You must fix everything as you go because there will be no second chance, no second draft, no rewrite.

There is no rule that says you must write your book like a reader is going to read it.

The belief that we MUST write a book straight through is what grinds writers down.

You must realize you are the writer of your book, not the reader of your book.

In creative mode, nothing is set in stone. You are not locked into the moment you are typing. You can go anywhere in the story and type at any point in the manuscript.

For this to work, you need to have no fear of writing extra.

To really be successful at writing into the dark, or with any creative fiction writing, you are always better entertaining yourself.