No matter what you are writing, the first priority is write the first draft.
Most writers procrastinate. Since writing is a demanding job requiring focus and dedication, most writers delay, dally, defer, and dawdle. How does one get that first draft completed?
1. Plan
2. Organize
3. Implement
4. Write
Without a doubt, the most important step is to plan what one intends to write, be it a novel, an article, an essay, a short story, or a poem. The writer must have something to say and a desire to say it. The need to express, for whatever reason, is important. It may be self-fulfillment, it may be economic, or it may to leave a legacy, but whatever it is it must be strong enough to force the writer to prepare and develop a way to put words to paper.
Once the idea is generated, the second important step is to organize. This usually means time at a computer or typewriter. Time must be set aside, a place of work must be established, and distractions (whatever they are) must be eliminated. The professional writer writes every day and often everywhere, but the amateur may not have the same motive or drive. Time, of course, varies from person to person; some writers have a day job to contend with, others write only when the urge comes upon them, or whenever time is available. An ideal place to write will also depend on the individual; some need noise as a background; others require silence; and still other do not care-they can write anywhere. The elimination of distractions is different for each person. Writers have written with bustle and hurry all about them; others need a special place with a special ambience. Do what you have to do.
Putting thoughts to paper or screen is the most important part of the process. Start. Write quickly letting the thoughts flow from the mind to the paper or screen. Do not be too concerned about syntax, word choice, grammar, spelling, or capitalization. The most imperative act is to get something down; rewriting will take care of the technical aspects of writing. Today most word processors have grammar and spellcheckers, but do not rely exclusively on them. They do not find all errors; if you are poor at spelling and grammar seek the services of someone who is capable in these areas-a friend, a teacher, or if necessary a professional copywriter. That is writing: planning, organizing, and putting words to paper or to screen. It is not difficult if one has a positive attitude about it.
Charles O. Goulet had a BA in History and a BEd in English literature. Several of his historical novels have been published and are available through Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble, and many other bookstores. His website is http://www.telusplanet.net/public/go1c. His blog is http://www.telusplanet.net/public/go1c
Oswego taxi to Midway ..When attempting to understand Creativity and Innovation, it pays to... Read More
You have a new website, or a new business, or... Read More
Most books aren't rejected because the stories are "bad." They're... Read More
Tips for your writing journeySo, you'd like to be a... Read More
Readers often send me interesting and exciting e-mails about the... Read More
Persisting With Bulldog Determination [Book excerpt from Successercising} by Rick... Read More
1. Turning your idea into a bookWith non-fiction books the... Read More
Long ago, movie directors mastered the technique of creating a... Read More
Although he has his own website, John Grisham probably does... Read More
If you find your sentences filled with commas, and they... Read More
Way back in your early school years, you were probably... Read More
On my first newspaper assignment as a critic, I was... Read More
Have you ever had a student write to tell you... Read More
Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?How we usually begin the preparation stage... Read More
How do you choose a name? Do you put down... Read More
Writing engaging articles and energizing ad copy takes... Read More
Right off the bat, I want to say that there... Read More
~TYPES~You Want Us to Write What? Understanding the Task AssignedWhich... Read More
These are some of the snapshots I carry with me:... Read More
"If you want to change your life," Harry Beckwith wrote... Read More
Have you heard the term 'ghostwriter' and wondered what they... Read More
Suspense novels are probably the easiest novels to write. Suspense... Read More
Pictures they say are worth a thousand words, but many... Read More
My husband is no poet, so when I offer my... Read More
shuttle from Midway Morris ..In most aspects of business, we will be expected to... Read More
Kallu was a tenant of Santosh Kumar Nayak. Santosh Kumar... Read More
It would be very selfless or noble of me to... Read More
How do you describe a scene without slowing down the... Read More
It's easy to feel overwhelmed by marketing. First, there's so... Read More
FIVE MINUTES ... Is All You Need ........to phone a... Read More
Questions and answers on writing life experiences for ourselves and... Read More
The greatest gift you have to give to yourself and... Read More
Part 1 of this article discussed the experience you need... Read More
Often, time is an enemy of writers. Sales seem slow... Read More
There's nothing that kills a scene like hackneyed dialogue. Just... Read More
A good white paper is a paper that makes you... Read More
Lately I've been noticing an odd trend amongst the freelance... Read More
If you become a writer for any publication, private business,... Read More
Editorial guidelines, also known as writer's guidelines, are the rules... Read More
The urge to write fiction seems God given for some,... Read More
Writing papers and book reports has long been the bane... Read More
Most people can easily identify with the dreaded "writer's block".... Read More
We've all been told that we need to use all... Read More
First, let's tackle the question that is uppermost in many... Read More
(Skip directly to ten for the fastest shortcut!)Like any field,... Read More
Dr. Phil's Life Strategies, #1 New York Times Bestseller catches... Read More
When my first book "Starting Your Own Business" was published... Read More
Traditionally, business writing uses the "one thing after another" format,... Read More
If you are like most writers, you're constantly searching for... Read More
Writing |