How to write

Sometimes the most difficult part of writing is starting.  As a writer you may struggle to find time, ideas or the confidence to write. I’d like to share a few techniques that work for me, and maybe you’ll find them helpful.

Find Time - We all lead such busy lives, it’s difficult to find time to sleep most days, much less write. This is especially true when our writing is a hobby rather than a career. If you happen to be one of the lucky few who actually make a living doing what you love, skip this section.  For the rest of you set aside 30 minutes each day to write. No matter what!  Until you make that commitment, you will NOT find time to write. You will collapse at the end of a long day only to realize you never did sit down and start that story or polish up that chapter.

If you are a writer, you must prioritize writing.  It should be as important to your well being as exercise, eating well or sleep.  Do not sacrifice exercise, eating well or getting enough sleep in order to write. These are non-negotiable activities.  If you do, you will find that the time you spend writing is less productive and satisfying. 

Once you’ve carved out 30 minutes each day for your writing, turn off the phone, close the door and put up the “Do Not Disturb” sign.  You can optimize this time if you plan ahead. Think about what you want to accomplish (within reason) and do not allow yourself to be sidetracked.

I don’t edit myself until I’m completely done with a train of thought, which may be after a scene, a chapter or several chapters.  I just write until I’ve gotten all my thoughts on paper and then I go back and clean them up. I found that if I stopped to edit, I would lose all momentum.  Try to write for the entire 30 minutes without editing your thoughts or words.  When your 30 minutes are up, read what you’ve written and fix any glaring errors, but don’t focus on word choice, active voice or point of view.  These types of corrections will happen in a later edit, and there will be plenty of edits to come, trust me. 

Find Ideas - You’ve set aside time to write each day, but you find yourself staring into space waiting for inspiration.  If you wait to be inspired, you could find yourself waiting for a long time.

Inspiration is a rare bird, while ideas are feathers floating on the wind.  You only need to reach for them.  Every idea will not result in a great novel, but they will expand your abilities. Plus, when that one really great idea comes to you, you’ll be prepared to do it justice.  

You can generate story ideas from newspaper articles; observations; retelling a familiar story or what if scenarios. Here are a few suggestions:

Fictionalize true crime stories and recount events as if you were the victim / perpetrator / investigator.  

Observe strangers and imagine their life story.  If they’re deep in conversation, what are they talking about?  What is their relationship to each other? How did they arrive at this particular place at this time?  

Remake a familiar story into your own.  A great example of this is “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West” by Gregory Maguire.  Maguire provided a unique perspective, which transformed the classic story “Wizard of Oz.”  You could write a story told from the wicked stepmother’s perspective; or the monster who’s ostracized because he is different.  Or you could modernize stories with familiar characters in an unfamiliar setting.

Carry a “What If” notebook with you and through out the day, jot down any stray “What If” thoughts that occur to you. Once you listen for them, you’ll be surprised how many there are in a day.

            What if I won the lottery?

            What if Aliens are real?

            What if SARS infects people in the US?

            What if I had magic powers?

            What if someone robbed the bank while I’m waiting in line?

Once you have an idea, mine it for all it’s worth. It may not be much, but that’s ok. You’ve at least practiced your writing, fine tuned your voice and explored something new.  Save whatever you’ve written because it may be useful down the road as a subplot, a character’s idiosyncrasy or an ironic tangent.

Find Confidence - Have you ever felt as though you really KNOW the writers you enjoy reading?  It’s as though they’re friends who you could meet for coffee and talk about music, or sports.  Sometimes, even the characters in the book seem so real, you become attached and miss them when they’re gone.  I have a theory for why some authors can induce these types of connections. 

Authenticity.    

They put themselves on the page, their genuine likes and dislikes, humor and spirit and we see the authentic person behind the words. This is when readers truly connect with writers.  When a writer tries to be someone they aren’t, the result is a pale imposter.  You may not know it intellectually, but emotionally, you will sense the deception.

Ok, so what does this have to do with confidence?  No matter who you are, or what you have say; you will connect with others if you are authentic.  In other words:  Be yourself.  It’s a cliché, I know, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Honor your voice, your unique perspective and share yourself with others.  

Once you are able to believe that your writing is of value, make sure it is the best it can possibly be. You can only grow and improve if you practice, seek feedback and continue to educate yourself.  

The more you write, the easier the process will become. At times you’ll be on a roll, barely able to type fast enough to capture all the words.  It’s amazing the difference you’ll see when you compare your writing to early attempts.  

To continue to grow you will need to seek feedback. This is one of the scariest steps for new writers, but also one of the most rewarding.  That’s not to say all the feedback will be glowing praise and standing ovations.  In fact, some of the most critical feedback will be the most rewarding in the long run. We learn from our mistakes, so be willing to make them and honor your journey.  

And last but not least, keep learning.

Expand your vocabulary, read other writers’ work, attend workshops or buy Grammar for Dummies. Education doesn’t have to be formal for it to be valuable, but feel free to go back to school if you’re able.  Not only will you be a better writer when you invest time in learning,  you’ll have more to say.

I hope some of these suggestions can help you get started.  Please feel free to comment or share your own tips.  

 © Copyright 2007 Lisa Hood. All rights reserved.