Making the leap from hobby writer to part-time freelance writer is an exciting leap. You will always remember that first freelance job and the check you held in your hands. As you’re depositing that money in the bank, an idea flashes through your mind: “That job was fun. I should do it for a living.”
If the leap from hobby writer to part-time freelance writer is exciting, the leap from part-time freelance writer to full-time freelance writer is exhilarating… and scary! Here is a step-by-step process to help you make the transition painlessly and successfully:
12 weeks to go. Get buy-in. Make sure you have the support of your family and friends. And start saving! The first couple months could be rocky, alternating between dry spells and big checks.
11 weeks to go. Write for free. In your spare time, find free jobs that give you a byline and write for them. Give them your very best, since these writing clips will be part of your portfolio in the near future.
10 weeks to go. Contact city hall to find out any laws or regulations concerning a business name or business number requirements. Government bureaucracy is a long process so start early!
9 weeks to go. Count the cost. Create a business plan and budget, including financial goals for the first 12 months and how many jobs at what price will be needed to reach those goals. In the next few weeks, as you write your free articles, you’ll see what kind of workload is needed to sustain your goals.
8 weeks to go. Generalist or specialist? Decide if you are going to specialize or not. Some people find specialization very lucrative while other people prefer the wide range of opportunity of generalization. You may find the decision to specialize easier if your current career is highly specialized. If you choose to specialize, begin focusing your free writing in your area of specialty.
7 weeks to go. Get equipped. Make sure you have the tools necessary for the job: a computer, a fax machine, and a place to write. Doing this early makes sure the bugs are worked out of the system and that you are committed to spending money to succeed! You don’t want to send the computer back to the store to fix some problem while you are supposed to be earning an income off of it.
6 weeks to go. Enhance your portfolio. Get the contact information of your clients and vendors as well as copies of documents you created at your job. (First, though, make sure it is not illegal, as some jobs have a confidentiality factor that will bar you from doing this).
5 weeks to go. Start the hunt. Let your free writing gigs know that you are making the leap to fulltime and would like to give them the first opportunity to book your time. If they like your writing and are able to pay, keep them as clients. If not, graciously wish them the best of luck and move on, but keep up one or two jobs so your clips stay fresh.
4 weeks to go. Pull it all together. Decide on a slogan, logo, and a unifying theme or message you want to relate to the public. Get opinions on these ideas from people you trust to be honest.
3 weeks to go. Make yourself look good. Now that you have your logo, tagline, and theme, you need to design your web site, put together your portfolio of clips, and create a writer’s resume.
2 weeks to go. No turning back. Give your notice at work. Most places require two weeks.
1 week to go. Flip the switch. In television production, it is called “going live.” Sign up at job sites, guru.com, or elance.com to start getting the jobs and begin trolling the job boards for opportunities.
Day 1. Sit back and smile. You have gone farther than many people who simply dream of becoming full time writers.
Day 2. Get to work!
Showing posts with label Starting Out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Starting Out. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
How to Get Writing Jobs When Starting Out
Just like any other job seeker, as writers start out, they are told to “send clips” of their previously published works, and to submit a resume. You have to have clips to get clips; it’s the famed catch-22. This is discouraging for a writer whose career is in its infancy. The good news is that there are several ways even a novice writer can begin to fill a portfolio, especially in non-fiction.
Take a look at your expertise.
What you know is an excellent reason to assign you an article, whether you have ever written on the subject matter before or not. Perhaps you lead poetry workshops, and want to write an article about iambic pentameter. Rich material written by an expert is needed at every publication, and a well-written query or thorough proposal will show a bit of your style, approach, and writing ability, giving an editor a favorable view of you before even seeing your manuscript.
What have you written at work over the years?
Newsletters, correspondence, brochures, promotional materials, instructional brochures, safety manuals, software guides, web copy… Many writers have been active in the corporate world for years. Start compiling your portfolio, and your writing resumé, based on the contributions you have made at work. Even if you do not want a career as a technical writer or copywriter, this experience shows that you are capable of producing quality items on a deadline. After all, would your employer(s) have continued to use your services if you were incapable?
What have you done for friends and classmates?
Have you proofread or copyedited academic essays? Created or reformatted resumés, cover letters, or their own publications? Have you perhaps designed slogans for your cousin’s business? Your contributions to friends, family, classmates, or colleague’s projects may be a starting point for your own professional portfolio.
Go pro – pro bono, that is.
Offer your articles or services for free at first to build up your portfolio, references, and referrals. Submit to low-paying or non-paying markets. While some writers would argue that this de-values your work, or that submitting work for free drives down industry-wide wages, I have not personally found this to be a problem.
Enter Contests.
You can not only earn money by entering contests by reputable journals, publishers, and foundations, but you gain recognition for your work from peers and publishers, awards are great additions to your writing resumé or CV.
Find a partner.
Perhaps you have a great idea, but still feel uncomfortable with the level of your personal knowledge on the subject, or your researching or interviewing capabilities, though you know you have the writing skills to tackle the job once the information has been gathered. Especially for non-fiction, co-authoring might be the best solution. An expert can handle the press and add legitimacy to your manuscript, while you concentrate on what you do best – writing.
Take a look at your expertise.
What you know is an excellent reason to assign you an article, whether you have ever written on the subject matter before or not. Perhaps you lead poetry workshops, and want to write an article about iambic pentameter. Rich material written by an expert is needed at every publication, and a well-written query or thorough proposal will show a bit of your style, approach, and writing ability, giving an editor a favorable view of you before even seeing your manuscript.
What have you written at work over the years?
Newsletters, correspondence, brochures, promotional materials, instructional brochures, safety manuals, software guides, web copy… Many writers have been active in the corporate world for years. Start compiling your portfolio, and your writing resumé, based on the contributions you have made at work. Even if you do not want a career as a technical writer or copywriter, this experience shows that you are capable of producing quality items on a deadline. After all, would your employer(s) have continued to use your services if you were incapable?
What have you done for friends and classmates?
Have you proofread or copyedited academic essays? Created or reformatted resumés, cover letters, or their own publications? Have you perhaps designed slogans for your cousin’s business? Your contributions to friends, family, classmates, or colleague’s projects may be a starting point for your own professional portfolio.
Go pro – pro bono, that is.
Offer your articles or services for free at first to build up your portfolio, references, and referrals. Submit to low-paying or non-paying markets. While some writers would argue that this de-values your work, or that submitting work for free drives down industry-wide wages, I have not personally found this to be a problem.
Enter Contests.
You can not only earn money by entering contests by reputable journals, publishers, and foundations, but you gain recognition for your work from peers and publishers, awards are great additions to your writing resumé or CV.
Find a partner.
Perhaps you have a great idea, but still feel uncomfortable with the level of your personal knowledge on the subject, or your researching or interviewing capabilities, though you know you have the writing skills to tackle the job once the information has been gathered. Especially for non-fiction, co-authoring might be the best solution. An expert can handle the press and add legitimacy to your manuscript, while you concentrate on what you do best – writing.
Today is the day you start calling yourself a writer.
The first bit of advice I bring you today may very well be the most important advice you ever receive. Before you read any further, get out your notebook and write a letter to yourself. Ask yourself why you want to be a writer. Try this for a few minutes and then come back and we will chat.
Ah, so I see you've come back. Good! That is a start. So, how easy was it to write your letter? Did you stare at the empty page for a few astounding moments? Did the words flow freely from your mind onto the paper? Is your paper still blank?
Regardless, you now have it set in your mind why you want to be a writer. Or maybe just the opposite--did you discover along the way that writing isn’t for you? If so, that’s OK to, but today is the day. Today is the day you must decide if this is the road that will make you the happiest in life.
Writing is not going to be your normal 9-5 job that makes you wake in the morning with dread every day, which can be brushed off at the end of your dedicated eight hours, not if you’re a good writer anyway. Writing will consume much of your life, as it should! This should be a warm welcome to those of you who are still serious about being a writer. Every meal you take, every person you encounter, every breath of fresh morning air will be your pallet of inspiration.
Still sound like fun? To me and many others, yes, this is a blessing! But to some, they may cringe at the thought of having such a dedicated line of work.
Today is the day you must decide. If you decide this is the path you were meant to take then do it! Be consumed by it! If you do not really love to write and find it as mundane and backbreaking work, maybe you should reconsider your career. And that’s OK. Rejection letters, late nights, and blank, frustrating minds are all part of the writing game.
I probably will not be the first or last to tell you that it is not easy being a writer, but if this passion of yours has yet to dwindle away, you will be rewarded in a way you never thought possible. To see your story told, your first acceptance letter, the finished manuscript you poured sweat and tears into is a feeling unlike any other you will have ever experienced. But it will not have come easy. Today is the day you must decide how much it is worth to you. Today is the day you start calling yourself a writer.
Ah, so I see you've come back. Good! That is a start. So, how easy was it to write your letter? Did you stare at the empty page for a few astounding moments? Did the words flow freely from your mind onto the paper? Is your paper still blank?
Regardless, you now have it set in your mind why you want to be a writer. Or maybe just the opposite--did you discover along the way that writing isn’t for you? If so, that’s OK to, but today is the day. Today is the day you must decide if this is the road that will make you the happiest in life.
Writing is not going to be your normal 9-5 job that makes you wake in the morning with dread every day, which can be brushed off at the end of your dedicated eight hours, not if you’re a good writer anyway. Writing will consume much of your life, as it should! This should be a warm welcome to those of you who are still serious about being a writer. Every meal you take, every person you encounter, every breath of fresh morning air will be your pallet of inspiration.
Still sound like fun? To me and many others, yes, this is a blessing! But to some, they may cringe at the thought of having such a dedicated line of work.
Today is the day you must decide. If you decide this is the path you were meant to take then do it! Be consumed by it! If you do not really love to write and find it as mundane and backbreaking work, maybe you should reconsider your career. And that’s OK. Rejection letters, late nights, and blank, frustrating minds are all part of the writing game.
I probably will not be the first or last to tell you that it is not easy being a writer, but if this passion of yours has yet to dwindle away, you will be rewarded in a way you never thought possible. To see your story told, your first acceptance letter, the finished manuscript you poured sweat and tears into is a feeling unlike any other you will have ever experienced. But it will not have come easy. Today is the day you must decide how much it is worth to you. Today is the day you start calling yourself a writer.
Fiction: How to Start Writing Your First Novel
If your dream is to create a bestselling novel, join the club of millions. Writing fiction can be one of the most rewarding things you may do as a writer. You’re here because you want to begin writing fiction. Many of you are confused as to where to begin. Use this guide to clear up the confusion and anxiety that many new writers face.
The First Step is All About the Mindset
You already took a baby step – you decided to write a novel. If you feel the urge to start writing your story right away, hold back for just a second.
First, let’s try to understand the world of fiction. Not every writer survives. Everyday, thousands of writers decide to write a novel. Some begin to write the first pages of their story. A precious few end up finishing their novels.
What accounts for the failure of so many would-be fiction writers? Perhaps it’s a busy schedule or a lack of motivation. Each writer has his or her own reasons for not finishing their novels.
With that said, here’s lesson #1:
99 out of 100 reasons are actually excuses. For the purpose of becoming a successful writer, use the word, “excuse” whenever you have a bad reason for not writing. Remember, reasons are excuses, and excuses are lies. Ultimately, reasons are lies that you tell yourself, and these lies will come between you and success. Start with a clean slate – make a promise to ignore the excuses that enter your mind. This may be the most important thing you will ever learn as a writer.
Technical Information – Let’s get this out of the way
A novel consists of about 100,000 words, which comes out to about 400 double-spaced, typed pages. Sounds like a huge amount of work, doesn’t it? Yes, it’s a lot of work, not to mention dedication and drive. If you feel discouraged at this point, go back and read the previous paragraph.
Reflect back on your favorite novel. It may contain anywhere between 80,000 and 100,000 words, give or take a few. Nowadays, some novels go over by up to 50,000 words. If you think that your fiction novel will go longer than 100,000 words, consider breaking it up into several books. For example, if you have 400,000 words, you should create a series of four books. On the other hand, if the idea of 100,000 words or more sounds frightening, perhaps you should consider writing a short story. A short story may contain up to 40,000 words.
The Name of the Game
The first thing any fiction writer should do is choose a genre – a category or style, so to speak. The genre will determine where or how it will be classified in a bookstore. Examples of genres include mystery, romance, horror, science fiction, fantasy and mainstream. These are not the only genres out there – many more exist and there are sub-genres for each category, not to mention mixed genres such as science fiction mystery. Do your homework and read up on various genres.
Dealing with the Creative Process
If you have even the smallest idea for a story, that’s enough juice to get you through. Even for those of you who have no clue what to write about, you can still get the creative process started.
Understand the creative process. I consider the creative process to be a time where you think, create, and write. It is the ultimate tool to finish your novel. Call it anything you want – some writers call it “quiet time”. It’s a bad term, however, because there are writers who talk out loud to make sense of what’s going on in their minds.
Gather your ideas. Don’t lose them.
Ideas come and go throughout the day. You may think that great writers have this rare gift of coming up with wonderful ideas for their stories. The truth is anyone can come up with a knock-you-socks-off idea. The trick is to gather those ideas in one place, whether in a notebook or in an index card box.
You never know when a fabulous idea will come to you. Keep a small notebook in your pocket or purse, and one by your bed. I know several people who pop up at 3 am to write down an idea.
Some of your ideas may seem “stupid”. Write them down anyway. It could become the best idea yet, once you play around with it. Too many writers “throw away” their ideas by not writing them down. A lost idea is just that – lost. You can always go back to a “stupid” idea, but you can’t do that with a lost one.
Make a schedule. Keep to it.
Include time in your daily schedule to work on your novel. It could be 15 minutes in the morning before your family wakes up, or a half hour during your lunch break. You don’t necessarily have to write during the creative process. You could use the time to think over your ideas or create new ones. Remember, a great novel can take two weeks or two years. Don’t restrict yourself – the quality of your novel will suffer.
Improve yourself and your novel will follow.
Make sure your facts are straight. Use the internet and other resources to help you find the correct information. Unless you meant it to be so, always use the correct info or your book may lose steam with some readers.
There are many great books at your local library or bookstore that can aid you in developing your plot, characters, and your overall story. Consider taking a workshop or course in creative writing if your story doesn’t excite you. Grammar, spelling, and sentence structure are also important to your book, so always get help in this area when you need it.
Revise, revise, revise.
If your story isn’t perfect in your eyes, correct it. It could mean erasing fifty pages of text, or changing a scene. Some writers get half way through their books and realize that something doesn’t make sense, so they rewrite the whole thing. Constantly reread, edit, and revise for a well-written, polished novel.
Here’s to Your Success
This guide will not be the only thing you need to succeed. You will go on and read many more books, articles, and magazines. Fiction writing is very multifaceted and the art of fiction writing will come to you in its own way. Never wrap yourself up in following an exact method – it won’t work. You can follow directions and take the advice of others, but your story will only unfold with your imagination. Word hard and stay motivated!
The First Step is All About the Mindset
You already took a baby step – you decided to write a novel. If you feel the urge to start writing your story right away, hold back for just a second.
First, let’s try to understand the world of fiction. Not every writer survives. Everyday, thousands of writers decide to write a novel. Some begin to write the first pages of their story. A precious few end up finishing their novels.
What accounts for the failure of so many would-be fiction writers? Perhaps it’s a busy schedule or a lack of motivation. Each writer has his or her own reasons for not finishing their novels.
With that said, here’s lesson #1:
99 out of 100 reasons are actually excuses. For the purpose of becoming a successful writer, use the word, “excuse” whenever you have a bad reason for not writing. Remember, reasons are excuses, and excuses are lies. Ultimately, reasons are lies that you tell yourself, and these lies will come between you and success. Start with a clean slate – make a promise to ignore the excuses that enter your mind. This may be the most important thing you will ever learn as a writer.
Technical Information – Let’s get this out of the way
A novel consists of about 100,000 words, which comes out to about 400 double-spaced, typed pages. Sounds like a huge amount of work, doesn’t it? Yes, it’s a lot of work, not to mention dedication and drive. If you feel discouraged at this point, go back and read the previous paragraph.
Reflect back on your favorite novel. It may contain anywhere between 80,000 and 100,000 words, give or take a few. Nowadays, some novels go over by up to 50,000 words. If you think that your fiction novel will go longer than 100,000 words, consider breaking it up into several books. For example, if you have 400,000 words, you should create a series of four books. On the other hand, if the idea of 100,000 words or more sounds frightening, perhaps you should consider writing a short story. A short story may contain up to 40,000 words.
The Name of the Game
The first thing any fiction writer should do is choose a genre – a category or style, so to speak. The genre will determine where or how it will be classified in a bookstore. Examples of genres include mystery, romance, horror, science fiction, fantasy and mainstream. These are not the only genres out there – many more exist and there are sub-genres for each category, not to mention mixed genres such as science fiction mystery. Do your homework and read up on various genres.
Dealing with the Creative Process
If you have even the smallest idea for a story, that’s enough juice to get you through. Even for those of you who have no clue what to write about, you can still get the creative process started.
Understand the creative process. I consider the creative process to be a time where you think, create, and write. It is the ultimate tool to finish your novel. Call it anything you want – some writers call it “quiet time”. It’s a bad term, however, because there are writers who talk out loud to make sense of what’s going on in their minds.
Gather your ideas. Don’t lose them.
Ideas come and go throughout the day. You may think that great writers have this rare gift of coming up with wonderful ideas for their stories. The truth is anyone can come up with a knock-you-socks-off idea. The trick is to gather those ideas in one place, whether in a notebook or in an index card box.
You never know when a fabulous idea will come to you. Keep a small notebook in your pocket or purse, and one by your bed. I know several people who pop up at 3 am to write down an idea.
Some of your ideas may seem “stupid”. Write them down anyway. It could become the best idea yet, once you play around with it. Too many writers “throw away” their ideas by not writing them down. A lost idea is just that – lost. You can always go back to a “stupid” idea, but you can’t do that with a lost one.
Make a schedule. Keep to it.
Include time in your daily schedule to work on your novel. It could be 15 minutes in the morning before your family wakes up, or a half hour during your lunch break. You don’t necessarily have to write during the creative process. You could use the time to think over your ideas or create new ones. Remember, a great novel can take two weeks or two years. Don’t restrict yourself – the quality of your novel will suffer.
Improve yourself and your novel will follow.
Make sure your facts are straight. Use the internet and other resources to help you find the correct information. Unless you meant it to be so, always use the correct info or your book may lose steam with some readers.
There are many great books at your local library or bookstore that can aid you in developing your plot, characters, and your overall story. Consider taking a workshop or course in creative writing if your story doesn’t excite you. Grammar, spelling, and sentence structure are also important to your book, so always get help in this area when you need it.
Revise, revise, revise.
If your story isn’t perfect in your eyes, correct it. It could mean erasing fifty pages of text, or changing a scene. Some writers get half way through their books and realize that something doesn’t make sense, so they rewrite the whole thing. Constantly reread, edit, and revise for a well-written, polished novel.
Here’s to Your Success
This guide will not be the only thing you need to succeed. You will go on and read many more books, articles, and magazines. Fiction writing is very multifaceted and the art of fiction writing will come to you in its own way. Never wrap yourself up in following an exact method – it won’t work. You can follow directions and take the advice of others, but your story will only unfold with your imagination. Word hard and stay motivated!
Monday, November 3, 2008
You are a Great Writer ~ But do you believe it?.. Here's how you can!
When was the last time you told yourself "I am a great writer" and believed it?
If you're like most, probably never. But, sadly, the same writers are all too quick to utter or think something negative at the first sign of writer's block or even before they begin a new project.
It's no wonder many writers are stopped dead in their creative tracks when trying something new.
That's why it's vital for you to not only think positive but to act positive in every area of your life. Since much of our job as a writer is thinking, it's important to have positive input to ensure positive output.
That's why I produced 'Writers on Writing', a compilation of literary quotations from the masters of our craft as well as150 positive affirmations I have written specifically for today's writers.
As I said, it's not enough to think positive, you have to act positive. And the ideal way to start this is by "programming" your mind.
Here's how you can get started:
1. Create your own positive affirmations.
It's best to begin with short, positive statements in the present tense, such as "I love writing".
2. Recite daily.
Recite one or more affirmations each and every day. I find the best results come from saying affirmations around a dozen times. And don't just say the words, MEAN what you say. Recite them aloud ~ with conviction in your voice.
3. Visualize your affirmations.
As the saying goes, seeing is believing. You can add a great deal of impact to your words, if you combine them with a strong positive image.
Imagine in your mind's eye, writing better than ever before. Feel the words flow easily. Picture how wonderful it is to produce a great work. See yourself accepting a writer's award or being interviewed on TV about your new book. Revel in the feeling of achievement.
4. Practice, practice, practice.
For best results, I suggest saying the affirmation and performing the visualization each morning when you awake, so that you set yourself up for a good day of writing. And also perform this ritual every night as you are about to go to sleep, so that you program your subconscious mind for action the next day.
This is not a magic wand approach to writing, but it will help you if you stick with it. I have been using meditation and visualization techniques, like this, in my work for the best part of 20 years.
By reciting one or more each day, by believing what you are saying, by visualizing the results ~ you are building a belief within you. And by building a belief, you are moving one step closer to manifesting the desire.
Affirmations work best when you use your imagination.
Do this and you will be one step closer to realizing that you are a great writer.
If you're like most, probably never. But, sadly, the same writers are all too quick to utter or think something negative at the first sign of writer's block or even before they begin a new project.
It's no wonder many writers are stopped dead in their creative tracks when trying something new.
That's why it's vital for you to not only think positive but to act positive in every area of your life. Since much of our job as a writer is thinking, it's important to have positive input to ensure positive output.
That's why I produced 'Writers on Writing', a compilation of literary quotations from the masters of our craft as well as150 positive affirmations I have written specifically for today's writers.
As I said, it's not enough to think positive, you have to act positive. And the ideal way to start this is by "programming" your mind.
Here's how you can get started:
1. Create your own positive affirmations.
It's best to begin with short, positive statements in the present tense, such as "I love writing".
2. Recite daily.
Recite one or more affirmations each and every day. I find the best results come from saying affirmations around a dozen times. And don't just say the words, MEAN what you say. Recite them aloud ~ with conviction in your voice.
3. Visualize your affirmations.
As the saying goes, seeing is believing. You can add a great deal of impact to your words, if you combine them with a strong positive image.
Imagine in your mind's eye, writing better than ever before. Feel the words flow easily. Picture how wonderful it is to produce a great work. See yourself accepting a writer's award or being interviewed on TV about your new book. Revel in the feeling of achievement.
4. Practice, practice, practice.
For best results, I suggest saying the affirmation and performing the visualization each morning when you awake, so that you set yourself up for a good day of writing. And also perform this ritual every night as you are about to go to sleep, so that you program your subconscious mind for action the next day.
This is not a magic wand approach to writing, but it will help you if you stick with it. I have been using meditation and visualization techniques, like this, in my work for the best part of 20 years.
By reciting one or more each day, by believing what you are saying, by visualizing the results ~ you are building a belief within you. And by building a belief, you are moving one step closer to manifesting the desire.
Affirmations work best when you use your imagination.
- See yourself writing easier and better than ever before . . .
- Feel the sense of accomplishment at completing an important work or gaining acceptance from a publisher . . .
- Enjoy the acclaim that comes with success . . .
- Know that you have already achieved the desired outcome . . .
Do this and you will be one step closer to realizing that you are a great writer.
It's Never Too Late to become a New You
"I haven't got the time" . . . "I haven't got the ability". . . "I'm too old".
Think about the excuses you use in your life. Then think about what you're missing in your life.
Consider what you could do, if you were more creative with making things happen rather than finding excuses for not achieving your life's dream.
I thought about this just yesterday.
My day started like most others. A flurry of activity, with one eye on a deadline and another eye on the ringing phone.No matter how busy you are, there's always time for procrastination, if you allow for it, right?
Well, yesterday of all days, I didn't have the time to waste. I had to finish a piece of writing I promised to a client, and I had to plan several other activities that were also pending. The last thing I should have been doing was going through an archive of work I had laid to rest six years earlier. But that's where my mouse wandered and that's what I found myself reading when I should have been writing.
It was an old novel I had started in haste and never finished. It had been on my mind a lot lately, having spoken about it to a friend recently. I knew I had to write this book. It was one of those works that was dear to my heart. But I had used the same excuses for the past six years. "I haven't got the time". It's well used but still works for most of people.
Sure, there are more "important" priorities in my working life. I have two offline businesses to run as well as two Web sites to maintain. Sure, I enjoy working on all of them, but there's not the same passion I have for my book. It's aching to be born into the world.
And that's what I have decided to do. Give it life.
It's not going to be easy, but it is going to happen, simply by scheduling time for it, like I would any other regular activity.
I have a few major projects to undertake and complete, but I now have planned to begin work on the book at a specific time later this year. And it will happen. It's in the diary ~ in pen, not pencil ~ so there's no turning back.
There's an interesting thing that happens every time I draw a line in the sand and commit myself. I find that after the initial struggle, life somehow gets easier for me. I find that the more time I think about my goal, the more things just fall into place.
In my case, I have discovered a lot of 'coincidences' relating to my novel. Mine is a political thriller set in recent history. And interestingly there have been a number of media reports lately that have given me fresh ideas and information. And also there's a new rash of movies and books which address recent events. While they may not relate to my era in history, they do give me inspiration on how I can blend fact with fiction.
It's 'funny' how these things just pop up now, isn't it?
Well, not really.
It's all a matter of awareness. Now that I am thinking about the book, it is as though I have raised an antenna and I am now tuned into ideas and opportunities relating to my new project.
Likewise, I am finding that I am now attracting people into my life who can add value to my project ~ researchers, journalists and new writer friends who are nudging me in the right direction.
You can do the same thing with your dream.
Once you have established a goal, thinking about it will keep it top of mind throughout the day, and that will enable your conscious mind to raise your attenna while working out ways of helping you achieve your goal.
But the best results come when you work with both of your minds. When you visualize your goal every night before going to sleep, your subconscious mind will work overtime, helping find solutions for you.
There's an old French axiom ~ "Night brings counsel" ~ and it's true for writers too.
Enlightened writers will tell you that 'sleeping on it' can produce incredible results. Your subconscious is a veritable well of information, inspiration and motivation ~ and all of this can be used to help you achieve your goal.
But, like everything, the first step must come from you. Take the leap today. Commit yourself to something you want to do, rather than something you have to do.
You'll find the moment you are truly serious about it, your life will change. If you are half-hearted about your goal, you'll get half-hearted results from life.
Forget the excuses, ignore the muse and set your dreams in motion.
You'll never be the same.
Think about the excuses you use in your life. Then think about what you're missing in your life.
Consider what you could do, if you were more creative with making things happen rather than finding excuses for not achieving your life's dream.
I thought about this just yesterday.
My day started like most others. A flurry of activity, with one eye on a deadline and another eye on the ringing phone.No matter how busy you are, there's always time for procrastination, if you allow for it, right?
Well, yesterday of all days, I didn't have the time to waste. I had to finish a piece of writing I promised to a client, and I had to plan several other activities that were also pending. The last thing I should have been doing was going through an archive of work I had laid to rest six years earlier. But that's where my mouse wandered and that's what I found myself reading when I should have been writing.
It was an old novel I had started in haste and never finished. It had been on my mind a lot lately, having spoken about it to a friend recently. I knew I had to write this book. It was one of those works that was dear to my heart. But I had used the same excuses for the past six years. "I haven't got the time". It's well used but still works for most of people.
Sure, there are more "important" priorities in my working life. I have two offline businesses to run as well as two Web sites to maintain. Sure, I enjoy working on all of them, but there's not the same passion I have for my book. It's aching to be born into the world.
And that's what I have decided to do. Give it life.
It's not going to be easy, but it is going to happen, simply by scheduling time for it, like I would any other regular activity.
I have a few major projects to undertake and complete, but I now have planned to begin work on the book at a specific time later this year. And it will happen. It's in the diary ~ in pen, not pencil ~ so there's no turning back.
There's an interesting thing that happens every time I draw a line in the sand and commit myself. I find that after the initial struggle, life somehow gets easier for me. I find that the more time I think about my goal, the more things just fall into place.
In my case, I have discovered a lot of 'coincidences' relating to my novel. Mine is a political thriller set in recent history. And interestingly there have been a number of media reports lately that have given me fresh ideas and information. And also there's a new rash of movies and books which address recent events. While they may not relate to my era in history, they do give me inspiration on how I can blend fact with fiction.
It's 'funny' how these things just pop up now, isn't it?
Well, not really.
It's all a matter of awareness. Now that I am thinking about the book, it is as though I have raised an antenna and I am now tuned into ideas and opportunities relating to my new project.
Likewise, I am finding that I am now attracting people into my life who can add value to my project ~ researchers, journalists and new writer friends who are nudging me in the right direction.
You can do the same thing with your dream.
Once you have established a goal, thinking about it will keep it top of mind throughout the day, and that will enable your conscious mind to raise your attenna while working out ways of helping you achieve your goal.
But the best results come when you work with both of your minds. When you visualize your goal every night before going to sleep, your subconscious mind will work overtime, helping find solutions for you.
There's an old French axiom ~ "Night brings counsel" ~ and it's true for writers too.
Enlightened writers will tell you that 'sleeping on it' can produce incredible results. Your subconscious is a veritable well of information, inspiration and motivation ~ and all of this can be used to help you achieve your goal.
But, like everything, the first step must come from you. Take the leap today. Commit yourself to something you want to do, rather than something you have to do.
You'll find the moment you are truly serious about it, your life will change. If you are half-hearted about your goal, you'll get half-hearted results from life.
Forget the excuses, ignore the muse and set your dreams in motion.
You'll never be the same.
Writing: Where Do You Begin?
Do you throw down words the moment you have a thought or do you structure what you'd like to write before committing yourself? Whatever your approach, here's some common sense tips that are not commonly used.
It's been said that writing is hardest for writers.
The first time I heard that, I laughed. The second time, I winced.
It's true, when you consider that we write for pleasure, for purpose and for a living. Others, may pick up a pen to write a friend or maybe dash off an email in between meetings, but they rarely consider the language, the inference, the beauty of the written word as we do.
So why is writing so hard sometimes? And, more importantly, how can we improve the process ~ and save our sanity?
I think it all gets back to how you begin.
As Susan Shaughnessy says: "The only thing harder than writing is starting to write". James Russell Lowell agrees: "In creating, the only hard thing is to begin: a grass blade's no easier to make than an oak".
And so it is with our labor of love.
How do you begin writing?
Do you throw down words the moment you have a thought or do you structure what you'd like to write before committing yourself to paper or pixels?
For me, it depends on the piece and my mood.
I use one or the other method or a combination. Let me explain.
When I have a strong idea for an article, I generally go with the urge and write until there's nothing left to write. Then I will structure the piece and fill in the blanks, edit and polish. This is basically the style I adopted when I was a young journalist. There was never time to really 'think' about a story. I just needed to file the story to make the fast-approaching deadline.
On other occasions, particularly if it's a longer piece or more complex, I will begin by outlining the points I want to cover, organizing them and then writing, followed by the editing process.
But, often, I use a combination. Essentially, my outline turns into free writing. I generally find myself doing this when I am writing a chapter for a book, be it fiction or non-fiction. I begin including the major points as you would in an outline, then I break into 'free writing' and, before you know it, the work is well on the way to being finished.
When it comes to writing media releases, which involve an interview with one or more people, I take a slightly different approach again. I transcribe my hand-written notes and quotes on screen, then organize them and then begin fleshing them out. I was never very good at shorthand as a young journalist, so I have never been confident to rely on my notes for too long (hieroglyphics were never my strong point).
I think there's no right or wrong way of getting the job done. We are all individuals, and we will all find an individual solution to fit our needs.
Whichever approach you take to writing, here's a few final points that may help:
1. Outlining and organizing your writing can either save or waste time.
It will save time, if you act on what you have prepared. It will waste time if you continue to outline or add to your notes. Take a leaf out of Nike's book, and just do it. Often writers will get caught up in the outlining phase and, before long, writer's block will set in.
2. Take time out.
How often have you written something, proofed it and found no errors, only to find a day or week later, it's littered with mistakes or even needs a total rewrite? This happens to the best of writers. If you have the time, put your words aside, take a mental break from them and return refreshed several hours or days later. You'll see it with new eyes and your work will be better for it.
3. Talk it out.
Sometimes when you are outlining, you may reach 'information overload' and the whole writing process grinds to a halt. This used to happen to me sometimes, back in those early days as rookie reporter. My Editor would sit me down and ask me one simple question: "What happened?" That's all he had to say, then I knew how to write the story. You see, it's sometimes easier to tell someone what happened than to put it down on paper. We have an in-built organizer that sifts through the facts and puts things in order. When you get blocked, use it with a friend or maybe just a tape recorder. (Often I can be found on the streets of my neighbourhood, walking and talking into a little black box. It lets me get out of the house but still stay in my mind.)
Oh, and if you're wondering which way I wrote this ~ I used the first approach!
It's been said that writing is hardest for writers.
The first time I heard that, I laughed. The second time, I winced.
It's true, when you consider that we write for pleasure, for purpose and for a living. Others, may pick up a pen to write a friend or maybe dash off an email in between meetings, but they rarely consider the language, the inference, the beauty of the written word as we do.
So why is writing so hard sometimes? And, more importantly, how can we improve the process ~ and save our sanity?
I think it all gets back to how you begin.
As Susan Shaughnessy says: "The only thing harder than writing is starting to write". James Russell Lowell agrees: "In creating, the only hard thing is to begin: a grass blade's no easier to make than an oak".
And so it is with our labor of love.
How do you begin writing?
Do you throw down words the moment you have a thought or do you structure what you'd like to write before committing yourself to paper or pixels?
For me, it depends on the piece and my mood.
I use one or the other method or a combination. Let me explain.
When I have a strong idea for an article, I generally go with the urge and write until there's nothing left to write. Then I will structure the piece and fill in the blanks, edit and polish. This is basically the style I adopted when I was a young journalist. There was never time to really 'think' about a story. I just needed to file the story to make the fast-approaching deadline.
On other occasions, particularly if it's a longer piece or more complex, I will begin by outlining the points I want to cover, organizing them and then writing, followed by the editing process.
But, often, I use a combination. Essentially, my outline turns into free writing. I generally find myself doing this when I am writing a chapter for a book, be it fiction or non-fiction. I begin including the major points as you would in an outline, then I break into 'free writing' and, before you know it, the work is well on the way to being finished.
When it comes to writing media releases, which involve an interview with one or more people, I take a slightly different approach again. I transcribe my hand-written notes and quotes on screen, then organize them and then begin fleshing them out. I was never very good at shorthand as a young journalist, so I have never been confident to rely on my notes for too long (hieroglyphics were never my strong point).
I think there's no right or wrong way of getting the job done. We are all individuals, and we will all find an individual solution to fit our needs.
Whichever approach you take to writing, here's a few final points that may help:
1. Outlining and organizing your writing can either save or waste time.
It will save time, if you act on what you have prepared. It will waste time if you continue to outline or add to your notes. Take a leaf out of Nike's book, and just do it. Often writers will get caught up in the outlining phase and, before long, writer's block will set in.
2. Take time out.
How often have you written something, proofed it and found no errors, only to find a day or week later, it's littered with mistakes or even needs a total rewrite? This happens to the best of writers. If you have the time, put your words aside, take a mental break from them and return refreshed several hours or days later. You'll see it with new eyes and your work will be better for it.
3. Talk it out.
Sometimes when you are outlining, you may reach 'information overload' and the whole writing process grinds to a halt. This used to happen to me sometimes, back in those early days as rookie reporter. My Editor would sit me down and ask me one simple question: "What happened?" That's all he had to say, then I knew how to write the story. You see, it's sometimes easier to tell someone what happened than to put it down on paper. We have an in-built organizer that sifts through the facts and puts things in order. When you get blocked, use it with a friend or maybe just a tape recorder. (Often I can be found on the streets of my neighbourhood, walking and talking into a little black box. It lets me get out of the house but still stay in my mind.)
Oh, and if you're wondering which way I wrote this ~ I used the first approach!
Five Simple Steps to Writing an Ebook
Writing an ebook does not need to be a daunting task. This simple step-by-step procedure will help kick-start your creativity and keep you on track.
Writing the book.
It's the dream of every writer.
But how do you turn it into a reality?
Do you start writing the moment you have 'the idea'? Do you test the concept with others? Do you produce an outline first?
Whichever approach works for you, the best way to start and ensure you finish the book is by having a developing a strategy that works, and sticking to it.
Best-selling author Stephen King in his recent 'On Writing' autobiography suggests the same thing. He says that a writer should commit six days a week to their craft, and set a daily target of 1000 words.
Like me, no doubt you need to earn an income while you're writing an ebook, so I'd suggest the following adaptation which served me well:
1. Commit yourself to a routine.
Write in your spare time (eg five nights a week). Make it a regular time (eg 7:30 - 9:30 pm). You'll find that as soon as you get serious about this routine, it will take you no time to switch off from your day job and turn on to your writing job. Forget about waiting for the muse to give you the inspiration. This is a luxury no professional writer can afford.
2. Set yourself a daily target.
Start with a low target of maybe 100 or 500 words. These must be 'quality' words, so allow for time to edit what you have written in the one session. But, once you've edited them once, don't continue to rework existing words from previous sessions. You should be dedicating the bulk of your time now to creating not editing.
3. Get tough with yourself.
If you can't get motivated, whatever word target you set and didn't reach, should be added to the next session and so on. If you keep on your own back, you'll make sure the book is written on time and the content remains on target. Remember, your ebook isn't a labor of love, it's a commercial enterprise. Treat it like a business.
4. Raise the bar.
Within a short period of time, you will find that you can easily reach the initial word target. That's when it's time to raise the bar. Lift it to 500 words a day or whatever figure is just a little out of your grasp. Again, as in the beginning, you may find it difficult to reach this new goal. But don't let yourself off the hook. It won't be long before this new level is easily attainable and then, guess what, it's time to raise the bar once more.
5. Set a date for completion.
Once you're into the process, you should set deadlines for completion of the writing, editing, epublishing and Web site development.
I used this simple process to write my first ebook. I started with a daily target of 500 words, struggled for a little while, but toward the end of the project, I was knocking out up to 4000 words a day.
You will find that, as you progress with your ebook, it will build momentum. You will also find that even though you are writing twice as fast as when you started, the finished product will probably be twice as good.
Remember one last thing ~ enjoy the moment ~ writing ebooks is supposed to be exciting, fun and fulfilling.
Writing the book.
It's the dream of every writer.
But how do you turn it into a reality?
Do you start writing the moment you have 'the idea'? Do you test the concept with others? Do you produce an outline first?
Whichever approach works for you, the best way to start and ensure you finish the book is by having a developing a strategy that works, and sticking to it.
Best-selling author Stephen King in his recent 'On Writing' autobiography suggests the same thing. He says that a writer should commit six days a week to their craft, and set a daily target of 1000 words.
Like me, no doubt you need to earn an income while you're writing an ebook, so I'd suggest the following adaptation which served me well:
1. Commit yourself to a routine.
Write in your spare time (eg five nights a week). Make it a regular time (eg 7:30 - 9:30 pm). You'll find that as soon as you get serious about this routine, it will take you no time to switch off from your day job and turn on to your writing job. Forget about waiting for the muse to give you the inspiration. This is a luxury no professional writer can afford.
2. Set yourself a daily target.
Start with a low target of maybe 100 or 500 words. These must be 'quality' words, so allow for time to edit what you have written in the one session. But, once you've edited them once, don't continue to rework existing words from previous sessions. You should be dedicating the bulk of your time now to creating not editing.
3. Get tough with yourself.
If you can't get motivated, whatever word target you set and didn't reach, should be added to the next session and so on. If you keep on your own back, you'll make sure the book is written on time and the content remains on target. Remember, your ebook isn't a labor of love, it's a commercial enterprise. Treat it like a business.
4. Raise the bar.
Within a short period of time, you will find that you can easily reach the initial word target. That's when it's time to raise the bar. Lift it to 500 words a day or whatever figure is just a little out of your grasp. Again, as in the beginning, you may find it difficult to reach this new goal. But don't let yourself off the hook. It won't be long before this new level is easily attainable and then, guess what, it's time to raise the bar once more.
5. Set a date for completion.
Once you're into the process, you should set deadlines for completion of the writing, editing, epublishing and Web site development.
I used this simple process to write my first ebook. I started with a daily target of 500 words, struggled for a little while, but toward the end of the project, I was knocking out up to 4000 words a day.
You will find that, as you progress with your ebook, it will build momentum. You will also find that even though you are writing twice as fast as when you started, the finished product will probably be twice as good.
Remember one last thing ~ enjoy the moment ~ writing ebooks is supposed to be exciting, fun and fulfilling.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Creative Writing Tips: Starting Out, Ideas, Characters, Plot and Structure, Viewpoints
Starting Out
Making the decision
So you've decided you want to write. Perhaps, you've been scribbling down snippets of thoughts on scrap paper for years, or maybe you have something important to say. It might even be you've just read a story or seen a film and thought, 'I could do better than that'. You probably can.
Personally, it's the thought of entertaining someone for the time it takes them to read one of my stories, that provides the enjoyment. If the tale provokes a subsequent moment of reflection or speculation, so much the better.
If the prospect of setting pen to paper, or finger to keyboard, and sending the finished product into the wide world seems daunting, remember all published authors had to start somewhere....
See, it's simple. Now you're ready to produce the masterpiece!
The Right Mindset
When you decide to become a writer, you may encounter various obstacles. The biggest of these is often self-doubt. After all, what right do we have to think we can succeed where millions of others have failed. Every right! Believe in yourself and others will too.
This is where a supportive family and friends can make the difference between completing that first special manuscript or resigning it to the wastepaper basket.
It's important to realise that writing can be a lonely profession but this isn't necessarily a problem. If you're doing it properly, you won't have time to feel isolated with all those characters inside your head clamouring for attention.
Confidence, perseverance, discipline, a willingness to learn and a thick skin.
Yes, you'll need them all to keep plugging away at the keyboard at odd and often antisocial hours, especially if the rejection slips begin to arrive.
Make time to write each day!
This is critical, even if it's only to write fifty words or edit an existing manuscript. The more practice you get, the better. Don't worry about the housework, the telephone or the garden. Get in there and create. After a while, you will probably discover that a certain time of day works best for you. Try to keep that time free.
Ideas
Useful Sources of Ideas
Ideas are everywhere. Some of them come naturally but it's worth knowing where to look for that extra piece of inspiration.
Making the Most of an Idea
Once something catches your fancy, interrogate it.
For example, if you see a young girl running for the bus in the rain, ask yourself plenty of why's.
Why is she running, why is she catching a bus, why does she look sad/ angry/ happy, why doesn't she have an umbrella, why is she carrying a suitcase, why is she alone?
Then you can go on to ask yourself; Who is she? Where is she from and where is she going? What is she planning to do once she gets there?
Approach the idea from all perspectives and let your imagination run riot with the what ifs...
Characters
Using People You Know
Yes, this is one method of developing a character. Many scripts have been written with a particular actress/ actor (or at least their screen/ stage persona) in mind.
The obvious drawback is that if your character is recognizable as a real person, you may leave yourself open to litigation. This might occur because the real person feels you have invaded their privacy or even slandered them. It is worth noting that we never know anyone as well as ourselves, so throughout the course of your story, no matter how well you think you know that person, there will be blanks to fill in. The potential to cause offence is enormous.
If you feel you must use a real person as a template, it is safer to incorporate traits from additional people so that you have a composite.
And above all, make sure real names are changed.
Creating and Developing a Character from Scratch
This is the safer and preferable option.
Plot and Structure
Three Acts
All stories, regardless of their subject or word count, should have three acts or a beginning, middle and end. They don't necessarily occur in that order but they should be in there somewhere.
In short stories, it is absolutely critical to make each word count. There is no room for padding. If the sentence (be it narrative or dialogue) doesn't move the story forward, it shouldn't be there.
Act I / The Beginning:
A good opening line or paragraph is essential. This is what determines whether the reader goes on to read the story or goes in search of another.
The opening should contain a Hook. This is used to grab the reader's attention. The hook may be witty, shocking or mysterious, but it must be interesting.
Many writers also structure the length of sentences within the opening paragraph. A short sentence to open, a longer one to finish. It is one way of drawing the reader into the story.
In short stories, it is important to introduce and identify the main character and conflict at the very beginning. Additionally, there should be an inciting incident. This is a mini climax which forces the protagonist into some sort of action that basically starts the story moving.
Act II / The Middle:
This forms the bulk of the story and is no less important than the beginning. A good start will not make up for a poor middle.
In this section of the story, the writer must develop the characters, plot and conflicts. Tension or interest is maintained using a series of small crises which inevitably lead to a climax.
Act III / The End:
Not surprisingly, the finale is equally as important as the previous two acts. A poor ending will leave the reader feeling dissatisfied and unlikely to search for more of your stories.
The ending is the climax of the story. By the time it is over, all the conflicts established and developed in the other two acts must have been resolved. It doesn't have to be a happy ending but many readers prefer an upbeat or uplifting ending.
Plot
There is usually only time for one plot in a short story. This should be well defined and clear to the reader. The plot is essentially the reason for the story. A good plot is invaluable although it won't make up for shoddy characterisation or dialogue.
A plot is the story's skeleton and it must hold together. In essence, the plot provides a conflict or an obstacle which tests the main character. This conflict is developed and the resultant tension maintained through a series of crises until the climax, at which point the conflict should be resolved.
A quick word about conflict. This can be relatively ordinary and recognisable, or outrageously dramatic. Its nature depends on the genre of story. For instance, science fiction is likely to have a more bizarre conflict than a romantic story.
There are three main types of conflicts:
a) The individual against his/ her-self.
b) The individual against another individual.
c) The individual against forces of nature.
These forces may be virtually anything beyond the character's control eg. the weather, natural or manmade disasters, war, corporations, the government...
Viewpoints
Types of viewpoints
First person - I go, ie. an eyewitness account
Third person - He/she goes, ie. narrator can be absent
a) Omniscient - voice of God type narration, can flit between characters
b) Limited - story is led by one character
Second person - you go, ( Used mainly in non fiction )
Third person plural - they go
Advantages, Limitations and Mistakes
First person
Advantages:
Creates an intimacy between the reader and narrator. The reader experiences everything through the narrator's perceptions, coloured by her motives, driven by her motivations
Less likely to inadvertently switch viewpoints
Disadvantages:
Narrator/ character must be present during key scenes
Readers can only know what this character knows unless the narrator either lies or witholds information
If the story is a thriller, then the reader automatically knows that whatever happened to the narrator they survived (unless they turn out to be a ghost). This may detract from the suspense
More skill required to provide a physical description of the narrator
Mistakes:
Revealed as a fraud ie. describes what is going through other characters’ minds rather than just her own
Narrator watches herself from a distance ie. tells the reader what happens to her but not why
Third person
Advantages:
Allows the reader to see all the events occurring
Allows the author to mislead the readers without cheating
Omniscient view allows us to see into many characters’ minds
Limited view allows the narrator to tell the story straight without being influenced by the character’s assumptions, prejudices etc
Limited also allows different levels of penetration
Both allow changes of viewpoint within a story
Disadvantages:
OV doesn’t allow a strong identification with any one character
Limited view takes longer to impart the same information than the omniscient
Mistakes:
More likely to switch viewpoints by accident
Choices
Assigning a viewpoint to a character automatically gives that person importance. They will be the voice of the story. Decide who is the most important character and with whom can you most closely identify.
If you want the narrator to be a part of the story, then the first person works best. However, if the narrator isn’t one of the characters involved in events, then use the third person.
As a rule, first person narrators are distanced from the story in time and third person narrators, in space.
Humour - first / omniscient
Brevity - third person omniscient
Emotion - third person limited
Sense of truth - first
Writers lacking confidence should consider the third person limited
Rules involving viewpoints
Vary depending on whether you are writing a short story or novel.
Short stories:
Don’t change viewpoints! Not only is it confusing for the reader but it also lessens any emotional energy you may have generated towards your main character. In other words, there isn’t time within the rigid structure of a short story to enter too many minds and establish empathy between them and the reader.
However, you can use different viewpoint when a character is telling a story to someone else, ie. a tale within a tale.
Novels:
Multiple viewpoints are not only allowable but useful!
In the third person, several viewpoint’s allow the reader wider access to knowledge and events not necessarily involving each character in the story.
In addition, changing the viewpoint will often increase the pace of the story.
However, shifting viewpoints too often may irritate the reader. It is also bad practice to change viewpoint within a paragraph.
Trading viewpoints:
Making the decision
So you've decided you want to write. Perhaps, you've been scribbling down snippets of thoughts on scrap paper for years, or maybe you have something important to say. It might even be you've just read a story or seen a film and thought, 'I could do better than that'. You probably can.
Personally, it's the thought of entertaining someone for the time it takes them to read one of my stories, that provides the enjoyment. If the tale provokes a subsequent moment of reflection or speculation, so much the better.
If the prospect of setting pen to paper, or finger to keyboard, and sending the finished product into the wide world seems daunting, remember all published authors had to start somewhere....
- Okay, first and foremost, set aside a space for writing, preferably somewhere quiet where you can work uninterrupted.
- Invest in a word processor or computer. Some publishers still accept handwritten manuscripts but their numbers are dwindling.
- Read as much as you can about the art of writing. Local libraries are a good place to start. Consider subscribing to Writers' News, sister magazine to Writing Magazine. Both publications are excellent sources of information for new and established writers.
- Buy a current edition of the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook and/ or Writers' and Artists' Handbook. The Small Press Guide is also an extremely useful source of markets looking for short stories and poetry.
- Enrol in a writing course or workshop. There are plenty available on a variety of subjects.
- Join a writing circle. At the very least you will meet people with similar aspirations. The better groups will set homework and provide constructive criticism on your work. In time, you will be able to return the favour. Many groups also engage the occasional guest speaker.
- Network. Tell your friends what you're up to. If you can pen a press release, critique or newsletter, they'll be knocking on your door in no time.
See, it's simple. Now you're ready to produce the masterpiece!
The Right Mindset
When you decide to become a writer, you may encounter various obstacles. The biggest of these is often self-doubt. After all, what right do we have to think we can succeed where millions of others have failed. Every right! Believe in yourself and others will too.
This is where a supportive family and friends can make the difference between completing that first special manuscript or resigning it to the wastepaper basket.
It's important to realise that writing can be a lonely profession but this isn't necessarily a problem. If you're doing it properly, you won't have time to feel isolated with all those characters inside your head clamouring for attention.
Confidence, perseverance, discipline, a willingness to learn and a thick skin.
Yes, you'll need them all to keep plugging away at the keyboard at odd and often antisocial hours, especially if the rejection slips begin to arrive.
Make time to write each day!
This is critical, even if it's only to write fifty words or edit an existing manuscript. The more practice you get, the better. Don't worry about the housework, the telephone or the garden. Get in there and create. After a while, you will probably discover that a certain time of day works best for you. Try to keep that time free.
Ideas
Useful Sources of Ideas
Ideas are everywhere. Some of them come naturally but it's worth knowing where to look for that extra piece of inspiration.
- newspapers - especially the news-in-brief columns
- magazines - especially letters to the editor or agony aunts
- other people's conversations - eavesdrop shamelessly
- other stories - remember, there's no copyright on an idea, just the finished product. That said, don't go 'borrowing' characters or large wads of print from
- other people's work. You don't need to.
- jokes - most of them are mini stories in themselves
Making the Most of an Idea
Once something catches your fancy, interrogate it.
For example, if you see a young girl running for the bus in the rain, ask yourself plenty of why's.
Why is she running, why is she catching a bus, why does she look sad/ angry/ happy, why doesn't she have an umbrella, why is she carrying a suitcase, why is she alone?
Then you can go on to ask yourself; Who is she? Where is she from and where is she going? What is she planning to do once she gets there?
Approach the idea from all perspectives and let your imagination run riot with the what ifs...
Characters
Using People You Know
Yes, this is one method of developing a character. Many scripts have been written with a particular actress/ actor (or at least their screen/ stage persona) in mind.
The obvious drawback is that if your character is recognizable as a real person, you may leave yourself open to litigation. This might occur because the real person feels you have invaded their privacy or even slandered them. It is worth noting that we never know anyone as well as ourselves, so throughout the course of your story, no matter how well you think you know that person, there will be blanks to fill in. The potential to cause offence is enormous.
If you feel you must use a real person as a template, it is safer to incorporate traits from additional people so that you have a composite.
And above all, make sure real names are changed.
Creating and Developing a Character from Scratch
This is the safer and preferable option.
- Get to know your characters, everything about them. Their pasts, family, occupations, hobbies, upbringing, physical appearance and so forth. You may never use a quarter of the information you have generated but your characters will be more three dimensional and credible for it.
- Don't give minor characters names unless it is necessary to the story. This is particularly applicable to short stories, in which there is little enough time to develop the main characters let alone supporting ones.
- Short stories should have no more than three main characters. More than this and readers may become confused or fail to develop the emotional response to the characters.
- Be clear in your own mind when writing the story of the varying relationships between the main characters. For example, how does a interact with b in c's presence/ absence, b with c in a's presence/ absence and so forth.
- Try to ensure each character has a function. Don't be tempted to add one to pad out a story.
- Be clear on their roles within the story. If you're confused, it's a safe bet your readers will feel the same.
- Make them believable, give them dimension. Readers are willing to suspend their disbelief when it comes to plot, provided the characters are credible. A great plot is nothing if the people within the story are cutouts or caricatures.
- Above all, make your characters behave in a consistent fashion throughout the story, whatever happens to them. Characters tend to take on a life of their own some time into a story. You need to know when they say or do something 'out-of-character'. Of course, at certain times you may wish this to happen, in which case make it clear to the reader that they are acting 'out-of-character' for a reason, not simply because you've lost control of them.
- The more interesting characters tend to be flawed.
- The main characters should develop during the story although this personal growth is necessarily limited with short stories.
- Make sure you know which characters you want the readers to like. You must develop an empathy for these characters in the early stages of the story. Equally, ensure your villains are hateful especially if they have a nasty comeuppance in store.
- Establish the identity of the hero(ine) of your story. These characters usually undergo the most change.
Plot and Structure
Three Acts
All stories, regardless of their subject or word count, should have three acts or a beginning, middle and end. They don't necessarily occur in that order but they should be in there somewhere.
In short stories, it is absolutely critical to make each word count. There is no room for padding. If the sentence (be it narrative or dialogue) doesn't move the story forward, it shouldn't be there.
Act I / The Beginning:
A good opening line or paragraph is essential. This is what determines whether the reader goes on to read the story or goes in search of another.
The opening should contain a Hook. This is used to grab the reader's attention. The hook may be witty, shocking or mysterious, but it must be interesting.
Many writers also structure the length of sentences within the opening paragraph. A short sentence to open, a longer one to finish. It is one way of drawing the reader into the story.
In short stories, it is important to introduce and identify the main character and conflict at the very beginning. Additionally, there should be an inciting incident. This is a mini climax which forces the protagonist into some sort of action that basically starts the story moving.
Act II / The Middle:
This forms the bulk of the story and is no less important than the beginning. A good start will not make up for a poor middle.
In this section of the story, the writer must develop the characters, plot and conflicts. Tension or interest is maintained using a series of small crises which inevitably lead to a climax.
Act III / The End:
Not surprisingly, the finale is equally as important as the previous two acts. A poor ending will leave the reader feeling dissatisfied and unlikely to search for more of your stories.
The ending is the climax of the story. By the time it is over, all the conflicts established and developed in the other two acts must have been resolved. It doesn't have to be a happy ending but many readers prefer an upbeat or uplifting ending.
Plot
There is usually only time for one plot in a short story. This should be well defined and clear to the reader. The plot is essentially the reason for the story. A good plot is invaluable although it won't make up for shoddy characterisation or dialogue.
A plot is the story's skeleton and it must hold together. In essence, the plot provides a conflict or an obstacle which tests the main character. This conflict is developed and the resultant tension maintained through a series of crises until the climax, at which point the conflict should be resolved.
A quick word about conflict. This can be relatively ordinary and recognisable, or outrageously dramatic. Its nature depends on the genre of story. For instance, science fiction is likely to have a more bizarre conflict than a romantic story.
There are three main types of conflicts:
a) The individual against his/ her-self.
b) The individual against another individual.
c) The individual against forces of nature.
These forces may be virtually anything beyond the character's control eg. the weather, natural or manmade disasters, war, corporations, the government...
Viewpoints
Types of viewpoints
First person - I go, ie. an eyewitness account
Third person - He/she goes, ie. narrator can be absent
a) Omniscient - voice of God type narration, can flit between characters
b) Limited - story is led by one character
Second person - you go, ( Used mainly in non fiction )
Third person plural - they go
Advantages, Limitations and Mistakes
First person
Advantages:
Creates an intimacy between the reader and narrator. The reader experiences everything through the narrator's perceptions, coloured by her motives, driven by her motivations
Less likely to inadvertently switch viewpoints
Disadvantages:
Narrator/ character must be present during key scenes
Readers can only know what this character knows unless the narrator either lies or witholds information
If the story is a thriller, then the reader automatically knows that whatever happened to the narrator they survived (unless they turn out to be a ghost). This may detract from the suspense
More skill required to provide a physical description of the narrator
Mistakes:
Revealed as a fraud ie. describes what is going through other characters’ minds rather than just her own
Narrator watches herself from a distance ie. tells the reader what happens to her but not why
Third person
Advantages:
Allows the reader to see all the events occurring
Allows the author to mislead the readers without cheating
Omniscient view allows us to see into many characters’ minds
Limited view allows the narrator to tell the story straight without being influenced by the character’s assumptions, prejudices etc
Limited also allows different levels of penetration
Both allow changes of viewpoint within a story
Disadvantages:
OV doesn’t allow a strong identification with any one character
Limited view takes longer to impart the same information than the omniscient
Mistakes:
More likely to switch viewpoints by accident
Choices
Assigning a viewpoint to a character automatically gives that person importance. They will be the voice of the story. Decide who is the most important character and with whom can you most closely identify.
If you want the narrator to be a part of the story, then the first person works best. However, if the narrator isn’t one of the characters involved in events, then use the third person.
As a rule, first person narrators are distanced from the story in time and third person narrators, in space.
Humour - first / omniscient
Brevity - third person omniscient
Emotion - third person limited
Sense of truth - first
Writers lacking confidence should consider the third person limited
Rules involving viewpoints
Vary depending on whether you are writing a short story or novel.
Short stories:
Don’t change viewpoints! Not only is it confusing for the reader but it also lessens any emotional energy you may have generated towards your main character. In other words, there isn’t time within the rigid structure of a short story to enter too many minds and establish empathy between them and the reader.
However, you can use different viewpoint when a character is telling a story to someone else, ie. a tale within a tale.
Novels:
Multiple viewpoints are not only allowable but useful!
In the third person, several viewpoint’s allow the reader wider access to knowledge and events not necessarily involving each character in the story.
In addition, changing the viewpoint will often increase the pace of the story.
However, shifting viewpoints too often may irritate the reader. It is also bad practice to change viewpoint within a paragraph.
Trading viewpoints:
- requires a chapter break or line space
- line space usually marked with three asterisks
- the opening line of the new paragraph should immediately establish whose viewpoint it is
- readers adapt better if they have already met the new viewpoint character
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