Over time I’ve got into a routine of writing in the evenings (I’m more than happy to give up TV) and stick to it. My brain slips into “writing time” as I sit at my desk at roughly the same time each night. I schedule in my writing time so all my jobs are done during the day as I’m one of those people who can’t relax enough to write if I’ve anything outstanding. It does bug me! And above all I keep going. Persistence is a virtue!
I write novels long-hand and then use the typing up as my first edit. I usually manage to get rid of repetition during this process. I didn’t plan my first novel out in detail, it kind of evolved over time, but now I do work out plot details first. Does that stifle creativity? I don’t think so. I’ve found it triggers ideas and I can work out which of these I can use and where I can put them into my novel before actually writing it. It helps me not to go off the tangent and a plan helps me see gaps so I can then fill them in so I don’t write myself into a corner.
I edit, and edit, and edit. First edit is to get rid of repetition, including all unnecessary adjectives. Second edit is to look at the plot as a whole. Does it work? Is anything missing? By the time I get to a third read through and edit, I can usually spot where I can tighten the novel up further. At that point I think about sending it off somewhere!
I write most days (holidays and Christmas excepting and even then I write extra on the days before and around it to make up for it). I also have a “creative” session where I’m writing something new and an “editing” session where I’m preparing another piece prior to getting it out. Doing things this way makes sure I exercise both parts of my brain (left = creative, right= editor according to items I’ve read) and again ensures I always have something on the go.
I outline everything I write first now (from a couple of lines for a poem so I know where I’m heading to a page for a short story or several pages for a novel). I’ve found outlines keep me on tangent and it’s easy enough to slip in ideas as they occur as I’m writing into my plan. Only the Ten Commandments are set in stone after all! I save everything to my hard disk and memory stick.
I write novels long-hand and then use the typing up as my first edit. I usually manage to get rid of repetition during this process. I didn’t plan my first novel out in detail, it kind of evolved over time, but now I do work out plot details first. Does that stifle creativity? I don’t think so. I’ve found it triggers ideas and I can work out which of these I can use and where I can put them into my novel before actually writing it. It helps me not to go off the tangent and a plan helps me see gaps so I can then fill them in so I don’t write myself into a corner.
I edit, and edit, and edit. First edit is to get rid of repetition, including all unnecessary adjectives. Second edit is to look at the plot as a whole. Does it work? Is anything missing? By the time I get to a third read through and edit, I can usually spot where I can tighten the novel up further. At that point I think about sending it off somewhere!
I write most days (holidays and Christmas excepting and even then I write extra on the days before and around it to make up for it). I also have a “creative” session where I’m writing something new and an “editing” session where I’m preparing another piece prior to getting it out. Doing things this way makes sure I exercise both parts of my brain (left = creative, right= editor according to items I’ve read) and again ensures I always have something on the go.
I outline everything I write first now (from a couple of lines for a poem so I know where I’m heading to a page for a short story or several pages for a novel). I’ve found outlines keep me on tangent and it’s easy enough to slip in ideas as they occur as I’m writing into my plan. Only the Ten Commandments are set in stone after all! I save everything to my hard disk and memory stick.
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