S.M. Phillips's Blog
September 9, 2013
Tips and Lessons from Writing my First Novel
Hi all. Thought I’d start my blog by sharing some lessons learned from writing my first novel, "The Burroughs." I think it self-explanatory that these were the things that helped or occured to ME and not meant to be prescriptive for all writers, but let me reiterate that this is NOT meant to be anything but a collection of habits and ideas that helped me finish "The Burroughs." I am well aware that each person has their own little magical concoction of writing tomfoolery that helps them pound out succesful yarns.
So...in that spirit, here goes:
1. Keep detailed notes regarding chronology and sequence for each character. Do NOT assume that you will remember these things.
2. Keep to a writing schedule and honor it. Don't wait for inspiration to strike. Just write--even when you don't want to. (Especially when you don't want to.) I think writers tend to treat this as this precious, divine "gift," forever waiting for some muse to inspire us. Just commit to writing. Put in the time.
3. Associate music with characters. This was helpful to me. My novel "The Burroughs" has a soundtrack. Writing as several different characters can get tricky and anything that can help you delineate voice and point of view is a good thing.
4. Don't get bogged down in editing. I believe it is a common experience to write and edit the crap out of the first ten, twenty, thirty pages. Those pages may be stellar, but if your neurotic editing (and I'm outing myself here) keeps you from moving forward, it has become a crutch.
5. Believe in yourself and your story, even when it feels like you have little to no chance of finding a readership. It's difficult to toil and then feel as though you aren't "getting your due" and it's discouraging when poorly written dreck is consumed at an alarming rate while your stuff languishes. I try to remind myself that this is all a learning process and that I WILL find readers who appreciate my voice.
6. Allow your characters to go places that you didn't anticipate or plan. This happened to me in a big bad way. Don't bother resisting. It's great to have a plan--and I realize that many writers are far more structured than I am--but I firmly believe that when you are writing and you trust the characters that you have created, they will assert their own will. Let them.
7. Never forget the joy of putting pen to paper. Push away from the computer sometimes and go old school with the pen and paper. Vary location when writing. Record yourself talking through ideas. In general, allow for spontaneity.
8. Support your peers. Offer your editing eye. Download new writer’s works. Trade reviews (and NOT the super cynical ‘Just say you read it and I’ll say you read mine’ crap.) In general, try and create a community of like-minded, creative, nurturing contemporaries.
and Happy Writing and Reading to all my fellow authors.
S.M. Phillips
So...in that spirit, here goes:
1. Keep detailed notes regarding chronology and sequence for each character. Do NOT assume that you will remember these things.
2. Keep to a writing schedule and honor it. Don't wait for inspiration to strike. Just write--even when you don't want to. (Especially when you don't want to.) I think writers tend to treat this as this precious, divine "gift," forever waiting for some muse to inspire us. Just commit to writing. Put in the time.
3. Associate music with characters. This was helpful to me. My novel "The Burroughs" has a soundtrack. Writing as several different characters can get tricky and anything that can help you delineate voice and point of view is a good thing.
4. Don't get bogged down in editing. I believe it is a common experience to write and edit the crap out of the first ten, twenty, thirty pages. Those pages may be stellar, but if your neurotic editing (and I'm outing myself here) keeps you from moving forward, it has become a crutch.
5. Believe in yourself and your story, even when it feels like you have little to no chance of finding a readership. It's difficult to toil and then feel as though you aren't "getting your due" and it's discouraging when poorly written dreck is consumed at an alarming rate while your stuff languishes. I try to remind myself that this is all a learning process and that I WILL find readers who appreciate my voice.
6. Allow your characters to go places that you didn't anticipate or plan. This happened to me in a big bad way. Don't bother resisting. It's great to have a plan--and I realize that many writers are far more structured than I am--but I firmly believe that when you are writing and you trust the characters that you have created, they will assert their own will. Let them.
7. Never forget the joy of putting pen to paper. Push away from the computer sometimes and go old school with the pen and paper. Vary location when writing. Record yourself talking through ideas. In general, allow for spontaneity.
8. Support your peers. Offer your editing eye. Download new writer’s works. Trade reviews (and NOT the super cynical ‘Just say you read it and I’ll say you read mine’ crap.) In general, try and create a community of like-minded, creative, nurturing contemporaries.
and Happy Writing and Reading to all my fellow authors.
S.M. Phillips
