Questions

You’ve always wanted to be the next big novelist, but you have no idea where to start. Very few people can just sit down in one sitting and write a full-length novel. We all have hectic lives and many things that pull us away from our writing. We have families, jobs, chores, school involvement - the list can go on forever. Yet, a writer must write. This is just a fact of life.

Writers are creative personalities with the desire to write. A writer of fiction might speak of a specific character speaking to them. While people that aren’t in the profession might not understand, fellow writers feel their pain. Characters often urge a writer on, occasionally to the point of tormenting the writer as well as inspire. Ignoring or procrastinating a writer’s need can lead to emotional fallout. What writers and other artists refer to as “the Muse” is relentless in its inability to let one sleep at night, and keeps one from paying full attention to important demands with the thoughtfulness we would otherwise give them.

But how does a writer find the time to write the next incredible novel in between their day-to-day stresses? First of all, set priorities! We can’t ignore our families or our jobs, but we can prioritize. Write when children are asleep or at school. Set a daily schedule to allow yourself a few hours to write. Plan play dates for your children or get a neighbor to babysit for a few hours and take that time to write. If you think you can manage without vacuuming for a day, take a little of your housekeeping time to write. It’s amazing how much a person can get done in just a few hours a day of peace and quiet.

Get a notebook and try to flesh out your chapters. That way you’ve got notes to follow on those days that you’re staring at a blank screen trying to figure out what comes next. As you consult your notes, more ideas will come. Being organized is a must. A five-subject notebook works best. You can dedicated a subject to your characters. Give them personalities and make notes on what place they have in your story.

Why not write your synopsis first? That way you have your entire work more or less plotted - beginning, middle, and end. This will help to keep you focused, and keep you from going off on tangents that waste time.

Keep a small notebook with you at all times. Everywhere you go, you’re introduced to people, conversations, and various other things that will spark ideas in your mind. Use this notebook to jot down ideas as they come.

Do your research for the novel on a specific day each week. Your writing time is valuable. Don’t waste time researching when you are supposed to be writing.

Having your own space to write and concentrate is the most important. Quiet is necessary as the Muse influences and inspires. Any outside noise and confusion will chase off your muse quickly. Establish your own space where no one will bother you. Instill boundaraies so that your family knows that this is your space and you’re not to be bothered. If you can’t establish your own space at home, try going to the local library.

Do you know what fosters your muse? Some writers must have absolute solitude without a single background noise. Others need music or television on in the background, but this is purely an individual choice and varies from writer to writer. There is no right or wrong. Whatever makes you more productive is definitely the way to go.

Last, but definitely not least - never give up. Life is always going to threaten to get in the way of your novel. Having confidence in yourself and your abilities is necessary for a novel to be completed. Keep the Muse alive and the Muse will help to guide you to your goal. First novels are published in spite of all the naysayers out there who say it’s almost impossible. The next first novelist could very well be you!


- Amanda Baker

Hey fellow writers! Although I’m only a ****?nager, I’m trying to do Nanowrimo this year (National Novel Writing Month). Do you have any ***?ps for a young girl trying it out her first year? Is it ****?d to plan? To tell your friends about it? To keep writing even if the story is getting really dumb instead of starting over? Thank you!
Nanowrimo is supposed to be a contest: You’re just supposed to get out 50,000 words on paper in a story that at least makes ***?mi-sense. It’s supposed to be ***?n, a let-loose-and-write-like-heck sort of month.
- ***?ith R

I don’t know that it is actually writers block that i have, but i do need help i think. i am a good writer, so ive been told, and i can make myself cry with the stories that i write. however, i want to write a full-length book, and thus far i have only written snippets of stories. pieces of a tale that has no beginning or ending. the characters in the stories have no past or future; the stories themselves have no other state than that in which you find them. i do not know why i cannot go beyond a page or two with my stories, but they always seem complete, as if they would be ruined if i tried to add anything to them.

one of my stories opens with a man and his wife in their car, slowly sinking into a small river that they had crashed into. the story consists only of the dialogue between husband and wife; there is no explanation as to how they arrived at their dilemma, or how/if they escaped from the river. it is a touching story; i cried while writing it. everyone who reads it also cries while doing so. there doesn’t seem to be a need to build the characters or the storyline, and indeed it would seem to destroy the effect through wordiness.

if i were to try to make the transition from snippet to full-length book, how should i change my mindset? i have started countless books, but all have failed at some point or another. any suggestions from fellow writers would be greatly appreciated.
hey! that is a great idea! i never thought of compiling all of my short snippets into one collection. awesome!
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An online group that is. I’m looking for some place where fellow writers can share ideas and commiserate over writer’s block.
- YES, I use correct grammar!

Writers always gain advantages when they form groups. In writers groups, there are always chances to gather more information and receive true critiques. You can groom your writing skills only if you have someone to comment on them. Your readers will not always comment on what you write because they are just interested in knowing what you have to offer.

               

Only experts and critics can truly analyze your writing and tell the positives and negatives. As an increasing number of writers are making profits on the internet and through self-publishing, they form writing groups to share their success and experience. The main idea behind these groups is to find potential writers and help them groom their skills.

 

Writers must always network with other writers to improve their creative writing skills. Going solo is too hard. Finding fellow writers and editors in writers groups who share your passion is extremely encouraging. Communicating with other writers through emails, chats and forums becomes extremely easy. You can also chat with them privately and find ways to help each other. A number of activities to improve your talents can be found in writers groups. A Creative writing community helps you think outside of the box. As the saying goes; it’s hard to see the forest for the trees. A fresh pair of eyes can be beneficial.

 

When you join writing groups, you will find more people to buy your writing. You can come in contact with publishers searching for talented writers. Writing about your favorite topic and getting paid for it is more interesting. By helping others to improve their business with your writing, you become a reputed writer in the industry. If you have something useful and beneficial for other writers, you can share that in the writing groups and become an authority figure. You can participate in contests and band together with other talents from these groups.

 

Creative writing is not easy and only with proper critiques can you improve your writing. In a creative writing community there will be many critics who are willing to comment on your work. They may also tell you the mistakes you have made. These critiques help you improve your writing before you send your content to editors. Unpolished manuscripts are simply ignored by editors. From your fellow critics, you can identify the mistakes you have done and edit your work accordingly. This increases the possibilities of your work being accepted by publishers.

 

Writing style is more important for writers. Even if you are not a native English speaker, you may be good at creative writing. There is a good chance that your writing lacks the style of native English speakers. Writers and editors in a creative writing community can clearly critique your work and tell you plainly how best to evolve your personal writing voice. You can also find links to how-to articles and tools which will help you progress. Expert critics will comment on your plot and help you make your work more shaped. You will also get opportunities to help other writers in return, which will help you identify good and bad writing.


- Perpetual Prose