I have been writing for a couple of years now, and sometimes it gets really discouraging. Writing a book is a huge mountain to climb. I know it has been done many times by others, and if they can do it then so can I. But in my times of doubt, what would you say to cheer me up?
thanks everyoneWhat is the best advice you can give a new author?
Have something new to say... yes, quite.
Which is it - best advice or something to cheer you up? The two aren't necessarily compatible. Assuming that it doesn't deter you that most books that are started are never finished, and most books that finished are never published, the best advice I can give is:
- Some writers plan every last detail before they start writing. Others make everything up as they go along. Most are somewhere in between. None of these is right or wrong, but you need to figure out which approach will work for you.
- Write something every day, even if it's only a sentence. This is the best preventative I've found for writer's block. By writing regularly, you keep the story fresh in your mind, and you're thinking about it when you're not writing. So when you sit down to write, you have some idea what you're going to say.
- Join a critique group. They will tell you what your friends and family are too afraid (or too ignorant) to tell you - what's wrong with your book and what you can do to fix it.
- Don't try to edit as you go along, because if you do, you'll never finish the book. Write the first draft, no matter how rough. You don't have to show it to anyone. If you change your mind about something major halfway through, make a note to fix it when you edit. Let the book sit for a while, to give yourself some mental distance from it. Then start editing.
- Set a daily or weekly target for how many words you're going to write. If you can stick to it, this gives you some idea of when you can expect to finish the book, which gives you a goal to aim for. It takes me six months to a year to do a first draft.
Good luck, and don't take it too seriously.What is the best advice you can give a new author?
Write something every day, be it a diary, a journal, an observation, a conversation overheard at breakfast, lunch, or dinner, an incident at a bus stop, a feeling, anything and everything you see, hear, smell, taste, touch, or feel.
You'll be amazed at what you have collected in your writings.
Then one day you will expand on one thought, incident, or feeling and off you'll go--writing like a madman.
Happens to me all the time.
1: You need an idea for a story
2: Have your charaters inline
3: Figure out how they know each other or how they will meat.
4: And Have LOTS of fun!
And if you want to publish your
storys / poems/ novels / books / chapters/ fan fiction / and even more! For FREE! Online! And get Lots of comments quickly!
then go to:
www.writerfriendly.webs.com
and check out my two chapters I wrote in the fantasy section
The Silver Dragon: Chapter 1 ';Legend of the lands';
The Silver Dragon: Chapter 2 ';Protection...!';
Write everyday, even if you are just moving commas around and changing a few little things. Actively work on the book you want to write everyday.
Good Luck!
Have something new to say.
