HOW DO YOU GET FROM NOWHERE TO SOMEWHERE?
From the dreaded blank page to something you’re not embarrassed to have written,
that feels like it’s written in a voice that belongs to you?
Every writer has favorite tips and tricks. Okay, there are no tricks. But there are ways to improve your state of mind and speed the process. Here are some of my favorites.
From the dreaded blank page to something you’re not embarrassed to have written,
that feels like it’s written in a voice that belongs to you?
Every writer has favorite tips and tricks. Okay, there are no tricks. But there are ways to improve your state of mind and speed the process. Here are some of my favorites.
- You can’t take it out unless you put it in.
- Get into your story, poem, or essay any way you can, but don’t get too committed to that beginning. You can’t expect to know what your beginning needs until you have your ending.
- Get to the good part as quickly as possible. This applies both as you write, and to the piece you’re writing.
- Write the parts you can write. The hard parts won’t be as hard when you come back to them.
- If the reader can imagine it, you don’t need to write it. Don’t get bogged down describing the ordinary, or getting your characters from here to there. You can always add transitions later.
- Read your work out loud.
- If you find yourself stumbling, look for lumps or bumps in the writing.
- If you find yourself skipping over a word, a sentence, or a paragraph, take the time to figure out if the problem is in the writing, or if the piece will be better without it.
- Or if, as is often the case, the word, sentence or paragraph is simply in the wrong place. If you’re uncomfortable or bored reading what you’ve written, it’s a sign something isn’t working yet.
- Don’t lose heart. The operative word is YET.
- Prune ruthlessly. It’s amazing how a piece springs to life when you lose unneeded words.
- Surprise yourself. If a thought occurs that doesn’t fit your plan, see where it takes you.
- You can do anything you can get away with.