Develop Your Writer’s Process
Things To Do…Or Not
Seriously, there’s a whole lot of writing advice out there. Sometimes it’s overwhelming and sometimes it’s just bad. Other times it just doesn’t work. Still, we’re looking for a little direction, so what to do?
My advice? Develop your very own personal writer’s process. It takes a bit of trial and error and some work, but once you make the effort, you’ll find you have a way of doing things, of looking at the written word that is absolutely all yours.
Where to begin…
Tell yourself you’re going to write. Then sit down and write one sentence. Then let that sentence be the springboard for another…and another. Writing fast is a good one to try out as well. Fiction, non-fiction, blog posts, whatever, give it a shot. Get yourself moving and see where it takes you. Be a little less obsessive about saying exactly what you mean. You can tweak it later or you can run with the idea that your reader will get it. Believe me, most of the time they do get it.
Moving forward…
Let’s talk about a few ideas that might go against the grain of the ‘usual advice’.
Want to speed things up a bit — in addition to just writing fast? Think about editing as you write. Yeah, I know, lots of folks will tell writers that’s a big no-no. It all depends on you. Depending on what you write you can do it a couple of different ways. If you’re into fiction, maybe stop writing and go back into the previous chapter to smooth it out. If a newsletter or blog, write it fast, then go back immediately and edit.
Ponder Outlining. No, I’m not saying do it, I’m saying consider the time it wastes as you dink around with it to get it just right before you even begin writing. Some folks need to do it and love it, others not so much. I’ve found it much more productive to write a headline or jot down a broad plot idea and then just launch into it. But if you’re an outliner, then have at it.
Write what you want how you want. Don’t write something because someone else told you to or it’s somehow a ‘trending’ thing. Don’t focus your energy on ‘going viral’ in the case of blog or newsletter or creating a ‘best-seller’ in the case of fiction. Focus on your feelings and what you want to get across. This will give your fiction a lift and energy to things like blogs. If your emotions are thrown into your writing (along with steady research if we’re talking non-fiction) I believe you’ll find things really get moving. It sort of imbues your writing with the power of a storm that invigorates your fingers dancing across the keyboard.
I’ve always been a sort of a ‘winging’ it person so that’s the kind of thing that works well for me.
Another note on editing. You might consider even re-reading paragraphs as you write. There’s a certain amount of momentum to writing. Your brain gets into gear and you’re moving right along. If you stop and go back to the previous paragraph, read, edit, then get back to it, the hard stop will frequently take the writer forward to the next sentence, the next paragraph, the next whatever, sort of like a slingshot.
Another note for writers seriously trying to make their way. Write for your own enjoyment first…your readers second. Why? Well, for me, if I’m not enjoying what I’m doing it won’t be good. So, I write better when I write for myself first. And, it invariably leads to my readers enjoying it as well (at least most of the time). I do write mostly fiction, but well, here I am, writing this.
Which brings us to the idea of listening to people who hate your work, criticize it. The reason to listen to them is, I think, obvious. You don’t have to like it, but there are times when they might be right if you open your mind and think logically. Additionally, their thoughts, gripes and irritating remarks might well give you an idea for your next novel or your next newsletter. You know, an idea so good you might actually make some money from your haters (and don’t kid yourself, you’ll have some of those).
As we come to the end…
Look, writing strategies are all over the place. Everyone will give you one and swear it works. You know what? It just might. Point is, those writing strategies are very personal, and many processes can’t be exactly replicated or even understood by another writer.
So, try things, use the proverbial ‘throw it at the wall and see what sticks’ method for figuring out your own process, and then full speed ahead!
**A click on the link below would result in a small commission to this writer who occasionally needs a coffee break.
so - maybe helpfully -
*Don’t forget to come visit me on Social Media and Amazon;
Want to learn from me? Check out Romancing Your Novel, my UDMY romance writing course.
And if you’re interested in fun gift ideas for writers or just cool stuff for yourself, visit my Story Seeker shop over on Zazzle (yes, I’d get a small commission should you click and purchase) at:
If you’d like to read a bit of my writing, my award-winning short story Skykicker is available on Medium
