Hard Work
Hard Work:
Not everyone can write a book, even though many try. But what's the key to actually finishing one? Should your only goal be getting a publishing deal? I had to weigh those thoughts with every novel. I don't think I ever started my writing journey wanting anything beyond a publishing deal. Did I write for the sure pleasure of sharing a story? Yes. But in the back of my mind, I saw myself as a published writer one day, but none of that is possible if you can't finish what you start.So here are a few tips on not allowing that lack of confidence devil plague your muse.
1. Write quickly, especially the first draft. We can be our own worst enemies sometimes because we expect perfection right out of the gate. I always say the best thing about anything we write is that if it's junk, we can fix it later. Let the junk flow, or your writing process will be so slow you just give up.
2. Find what works best for you. If you write better early in the morning, then don't force yourself to write later at night. This sounds elementary, but how many of us get caught in the trap of writing only when we have free time. I'm not saying not to do this sometimes if you have to, but sticking to a routine is critical to following through on a novel.
3. Have a general idea of how long your novel may be in the end, but don't freak out if it ends up slightly longer or shorter. Very rarely will your manuscript be the exact length of your novel. For example, after a round of my editing and professional editing, my recently published novel wasn't anywhere close to my original version. We can press ourselves to churn out more and more pages, but what good is it if it's just for the sake of reaching our word or page count? Likewise--if we are really shy of our expected total, we can get discouraged. Overwriting can be a problem, and many times those long paragraphs and sentences will be cut. Don't get so hung up on how many words you write per day, just try to be as consistent as possible. Then--the next time you look down at your word count, you'll be surprised to find out just how far you've come.
4. Writer's block happens to all writers. Just face it. the only time it becomes a concern should be if you STAY in that mode for too long. Switch to writing something else or maybe using a different aspect of your creative mind. Better yet, use the more analytical section of the brain instead. Draw a picture or color. Maybe a crossword puzzle or math. The best way to break through is to write in shorter bursts because a novel is a ton of hours in front of a computer. Shorter projects get the writing ideas flowing.
The bottom line is understanding that novel writing is creative, rewarding, fascinating, and mystical at times, but there will never be a substitute for plain hard work. That's how the bridge got built, the wedding cake got decorated, and the sword got formed. Pressure. Embrace it. When the novel gets published, it will all be worth it.
Not everyone can write a book, even though many try. But what's the key to actually finishing one? Should your only goal be getting a publishing deal? I had to weigh those thoughts with every novel. I don't think I ever started my writing journey wanting anything beyond a publishing deal. Did I write for the sure pleasure of sharing a story? Yes. But in the back of my mind, I saw myself as a published writer one day, but none of that is possible if you can't finish what you start.So here are a few tips on not allowing that lack of confidence devil plague your muse.
1. Write quickly, especially the first draft. We can be our own worst enemies sometimes because we expect perfection right out of the gate. I always say the best thing about anything we write is that if it's junk, we can fix it later. Let the junk flow, or your writing process will be so slow you just give up.
2. Find what works best for you. If you write better early in the morning, then don't force yourself to write later at night. This sounds elementary, but how many of us get caught in the trap of writing only when we have free time. I'm not saying not to do this sometimes if you have to, but sticking to a routine is critical to following through on a novel.
3. Have a general idea of how long your novel may be in the end, but don't freak out if it ends up slightly longer or shorter. Very rarely will your manuscript be the exact length of your novel. For example, after a round of my editing and professional editing, my recently published novel wasn't anywhere close to my original version. We can press ourselves to churn out more and more pages, but what good is it if it's just for the sake of reaching our word or page count? Likewise--if we are really shy of our expected total, we can get discouraged. Overwriting can be a problem, and many times those long paragraphs and sentences will be cut. Don't get so hung up on how many words you write per day, just try to be as consistent as possible. Then--the next time you look down at your word count, you'll be surprised to find out just how far you've come.
4. Writer's block happens to all writers. Just face it. the only time it becomes a concern should be if you STAY in that mode for too long. Switch to writing something else or maybe using a different aspect of your creative mind. Better yet, use the more analytical section of the brain instead. Draw a picture or color. Maybe a crossword puzzle or math. The best way to break through is to write in shorter bursts because a novel is a ton of hours in front of a computer. Shorter projects get the writing ideas flowing.
The bottom line is understanding that novel writing is creative, rewarding, fascinating, and mystical at times, but there will never be a substitute for plain hard work. That's how the bridge got built, the wedding cake got decorated, and the sword got formed. Pressure. Embrace it. When the novel gets published, it will all be worth it.
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