As I write this, here in my 38th year, I’m struck by a number of what some people might consider failures, and yet others might see as learning experiences. To not put too fine a point on it, this is the writer’s experience in an online nutshell. As for me, I’ve taken several cracks at this whole writing thing. In total I’ve started writing, around 18 different books…give or take. All of them in various stages of incompleteness. Wow, right? But to be honest, it’s not as impressive as it is disappointing. Because only in the last couple of years have I actually seen any of these projects to completion. In fact, only four of them have been finished (as in reaching completion on the first draft). Only two have reached a second draft. And worse still, only one has been refined enough to be sent out to find representation. So this being said, let’s jump into a short list of things to do…or not do as it were, when writing your novel(s).
Finish what you start:
If you didn’t spot the problem laid out above, here it is in plain view. While no writing is ever wasted (unless it’s about Frozen, I hate that movie), as in we get better the more we practice our craft, start a project only if you intend to finish it. Writer’s minds are often scattered, we are creatives after all. I personally have so many ideas that will randomly come up and ignite excitement inside me that I can’t wait to work on them more. Listen to me now: NO! No. Bad writer. BAD WRITER!
On that note…make a note:
This is why notebooks exist. Carry one in your pocket, in your purse, in your knapsack…but not your fanny pack. Get an app on your phone (Evernote is great). Get a new idea, jot it down in a new note, or create a folder for new ideas. Get it out of your head so you can come back to it later. Then, exercise self control and go back to the project you’ve already started and finish it.
Plot…but also pants:
If you’re new to this idea it’s basically this: You’re either a plotter (someone who fully and in detail plans out their novel before writing). Or you’re a pantster (someone who flies by the seat of their pants, allowing their story to take whatever path it will). Personally, I’ve done both. And the greatest thing I can take away from those experiences…is that I suck at each one. Individually, that is. For me I need a mixture of the two. A healthy amount of plotting so I know where the story is going and needs to go, and a generous spritzing of pantsing so that the story remains fluid, able to adapt to the awesome things my brain will drum up when I’m in the middle of something else. Be adaptive. Nothing is set in stone.
Try this:
Start writing. If at any point you find yourself struggling to write a scene and you’re having to force it…stop. Exit the word processor, notebook, stone tablet, or parchment scrawled in your own blood. Open up something new, and plot. No need for full on detail. Think about your story. What is happening? What are you trying to accomplish? What are the main events/actions/consequences/stakes that need to take place. Then figure out (in very broad strokes) how your character is going to get there. Then, if you’re comfortable doing that, start constructing individual scenes. The most important point here, though, is finding the process that works best for you, probably a mixture of both plotting and pantsing.
Do NOT obsessively re-write…the same scene…over and over:
To me, this is tantamount to self mutilation. Pointless. Painful. And unlikely to do anything but sow the seeds of regret later on. This goes hand-in-hand with plotting and pantsing. If you find yourself doing this, then it’s a pretty good sign you might need to step back from the scene you’re stuck on and figure out where your story needs to go. The best cure for writer’s block (which doesn’t actually exist) is planning.
DO have multiple projects…just not 18 of them:
At a certain point, if you’re diligent, if you’re dedicated, and if you aren’t binge watching something on Netflix, you will finish your book. The first draft anyway. Once this is done, put the pen down and step away. Stop thinking about it. Stop worrying about it. If you need a break from writing, take it. If you still want to write, start working on something else. The point is two-fold: to remove yourself from the other project and get emotional distance so that you can see it from more objective eyes. And to get something else going on the back burner. I mean, come on! You’ve got other ideas you want to get rolling. Do it!
The End:
There’s more to this discussion, many more things that we can talk about. Perhaps we’ll talk about those next month. In the meantime…write something.