Each writer has their own way of writing, Along the way, they have created a process that works for them. They have a favorite font. A favorite page size. A favorite place to sit when they write. A favorite keyboard or ink pen or type of paper on which they write. They may even have developed a way they create their story using a story board or action figure dolls. Each of them has developed writing habits that may be unique to only them.  Regardless, they have formed habits.

 Sometimes the thought of writing is both so exciting and daunting that we just shut down.  Most of us are comfortable with failure. We believe we are going to fail so we don’t even try.  Writing is just like everything else; you must try before you can fail.  And you cannot have failure without success.  If you have not successfully done something, how is there failure? 

 Most people write because they like to do it. It brings them joy. Because writing is often seen as enjoyable it is not treated with the same importance or deference to which everything else in life is treated.  It is often the last thing on the priority list. The last thing that gets attention.  If writing is important to you, then treat it so. Make it a priority.

 Let’s discuss some tips/tools to get us and keep us on the writing track!

 Pre-Writing

 Pre-writing is exactly what is says – writing before you write or anything you do to prepare to write.  That doesn’t seem to make sense, does it?  Don’t you just sit down and start writing.  Perhaps but there is plenty of ‘work’ to do before you ever actually put a pen to paper (or fingers to a keyboard).  Don’t fret. You have probably already been doing much of this without putting a name to it.

 Prewriting includes notes you’ve taken or scribbled with ideas on them.  They may not be full thoughts just lines of ideas or things you’d like to write about. Prewriting may include reading articles about the subject you wish to write about. Everything you do towards writing counts.

 Time Management

 Because writing is now a priority, schedule a time for it – literally.  Maybe Sunday evenings are the time you know is most quiet in your home.  Maybe Thursday mornings before everyone in your household awakens is the best for you. When doesn’t matter. It’s your time.  Set an alarm.  Keep the date.  This is important.

 Set A Writing Goal

 When you keep your appointment with yourself and you are surrounded by your “necessary” things (coffee mug, favorite pen, etc.), set a goal.  Make it simple.  Today I will write one page, one paragraph, five sentences. Or today I will create a title. Make your goal small and doable.  Success begets success.  If you feel you have met your goal each time, it will encourage you to keep that writing appointment with yourself next time and then the next time and the next time!

 Writing

 I always recommend that writers write without editing themselves.  In other words, do not do any corrections as you write. Editing comes later. Put your thoughts on that paper.  All of them.  Sometimes as we write, we tend to have a separate discourse going on in our heads telling us that we shouldn’t write that because so-and-so won’t like it or that’s not how you spell that word. Ignore that voice. Write what comes to your mind. Again, write all of it.  Editing is a process we can discuss later.  You need to get the words out of your head and on to the paper.

 If you’re writing fiction, tell your story as you see it in your head.  Describe your characters, setting, action as that story unfolds in your head – or as it has already unfolded.  If you’re writing non-fiction, write what you know. Tell the truth even if it’s frightening.  Remember if you want help in editing your work later, the editor needs to know what you know to help tell the story.  If you’re creating a children’s book, sketch out what you envision the page to look like – where do you want the pictures to go? How large do you want the words to be on the page?  If you’re creating a coffee table book, look at your photos. Do you see a pattern in them? Do you feel strongly about the order in which they should appear in the book? How about the size of them? Write notes about your photos. What were you feeling when you took the picture? Where was it? What time of day?

 Organizing Your Thoughts

 Now that your words are on paper, it’s time to organize them. Some of us have already created an outline or chapter division before we wrote so now is the time to put those written words under each of those headings.  If you have written something that can fit into more than one of the categories you created, copy and paste it into both. Remember editing comes later and that will be the time you can make a final decision about where it should be.

 If you’re writing non-fiction, and have not yet created categories or sections, now is the time to do so.  These will probably become chapter headings.  Now is the time to sort the words you have on paper into the sections under which they belong.  For example, maybe you’re writing an autobiography and have your life story written.  Now you can go through and separate your thoughts out into categories. Perhaps you want your story chunked into timeframes – childhood, teen years, adulthood, etc.  Perhaps you want your story divided by locations – My Time in Orlando, My Time in Miami, etc.  It’s your story to tell. How do you see the information broken down for your readers?

 If you’re writing a children’s book about the alphabet, you already know which order it must take.  If you’re creating a coffee table book, now is the time to separate your pictures into categories. Maybe you want to divide them by time of day - daylight or evening or sunrise and sunset. Perhaps you categorize it by the colors of the photos.  Maybe you divide by areas. The options are endless.

 Now to editing…perhaps we can save that for another time!  

 How can I help you?                  Janice Bird