A Writing Tip

As you're writing your three pages a day, you'll sometimes be rolling along and want to write more. That's great, just be sure and stop when you know what's going to happen next, even if it means stopping in the middle of a paragraph or sentence. That really helps you to get going the next day. I often make notes in the margin, "need to flesh out this scene more," "how about a scene between ___ and ___?" "awkward", etc. Remember, this is a rough draft, and at this point, it's the story elements that are most important. You're learning about your characters as you go along, even if you did a complete character study before beginning your novel. I love the surprises that happen as the story unfolds.

Journaling

Two of my grandkids, Cheyenne and Jake, keep a journal. It's amazing to me that they do this on their own. I wish I had when I was their age, when I think of all the plot ideas, movie scripts, descriptions, settings, characters, personal experiences, that came up each day, and they're mostly gone forever. We think we'll remember, but we don't. Even a dream that fleshes out a story idea, will be gone the next morning. I have to get up in the middle of the night and write it down. My 93-year-old father keeps a meticulous daily journal of everything that happens. His memory is amazing, but if there's any doubt, he'll check his journal.
If you want to write, this is the best way to start. Keeping a journal will expand your creativity in ways you never imagined.

Writing as a Catharsis

Many of you already know this is true. If you're angry with someone, or hurt, it's a good idea to write all your emotions down and out on paper.
Don't hold back. You don't have to be fair, because no one's going to read it. It's amazing how much this lifts the burden off your shoulders.
Once you're done, destroy. This is to heal you and allow you to move on, not cause further damage in a relationship. It works!

Books on Amazon

Hi. Have you started your novel yet, using the 3 page/day technique? Remember, no going back to revise at this point. Keep pushing forward to get that story down on paper. Sometimes, if I'm really stuck, I'll study a good How To writing book. I'll take notes about how the tips relate to my storyline and characters. It really helps. One of my favorite How To books is Characters Make Your Story by Maren Elwood. It's an older book, but still relevant. I'll mention other good How To's as we go along together in this process.
As you're writing your three pages, but you feel really stuck, you can always write a scene further along in the book, especially if it plays like a video in your head. Get it down! You won't remember it exactly the way you're seeing it now.
Or, if that's not an option right now, stop and think about each character. My next blog will be about Character Studies.

How to Write a Book

The fastest book I've written is Wait the Morning Light. I was working full-time, but the story kept haunting me. I told myself that I only had to write 3 pages a day. It could be free flowing, no reading back and revising, and if I didn't know what was going to happen at a certain point, I could leave a note to self, then go onto a scene that was clear in my mind. You have to get that first draft down on paper before you can truly "write" and hope for brilliance. I'll talk more about how to revise, but right now, 3 pages a day is a doable rate to finish a novel.

Life's Little Adjustments; New Direction

It was fun starting this blog, but I'm so focussed on writing a new novel, that we'll talk about that process. I hope to add tips for new writers, ways to add suspense, how to rewrite effectively, etc. A friend once asked me to be her guest at Seannchae Writer's Workshop, but I'd have to be writing a book. I said, "I can't write a book!" Up to then, I'd been writing nonfiction articles. She said, "Can you write a sentence?" "Yes," I said. She persisted. "Can you write another sentence?"
By the time we attended the workshop, I had a first chapter in hand. Please join me on this journey.