Loren A. Olson
Write SOMETHING!
I frequently hear from people who say, "I should write a book," but they haven't written anything. They write it over and over in their heads but commit nothing to paper.
I encourage people to write "stream of consciousness." Just put down all of your thoughts and let it flow. Don't edit. Don't censor.
Writing should come from a place of emotion. Editing is an analytical process that engages a different part of the brain.
After you have that "shitty first draft" you can begin to edit. In the process, you are learning to be a better writer. You learn the skills of writing. You can replace forms of "to be" with verbs that bring excitement and emotion. You can add descriptive words that will allow the reader to visualize what you've seen. But for me, all of that comes after I have something concrete that I can work with.
After I have the first revised draft, I often use the "Read aloud" function on MS Word. You hear the rhythm of our writing. You hear mistakes that you can no longer see. You can listen to the flow of the writing.
After that revision, I have someone else read it and comment.
I frequently hear from people who say, "I should write a book," but they haven't written anything. They write it over and over in their heads but commit nothing to paper.
I encourage people to write "stream of consciousness." Just put down all of your thoughts and let it flow. Don't edit. Don't censor.
Writing should come from a place of emotion. Editing is an analytical process that engages a different part of the brain.
After you have that "shitty first draft" you can begin to edit. In the process, you are learning to be a better writer. You learn the skills of writing. You can replace forms of "to be" with verbs that bring excitement and emotion. You can add descriptive words that will allow the reader to visualize what you've seen. But for me, all of that comes after I have something concrete that I can work with.
After I have the first revised draft, I often use the "Read aloud" function on MS Word. You hear the rhythm of our writing. You hear mistakes that you can no longer see. You can listen to the flow of the writing.
After that revision, I have someone else read it and comment.
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