No matter what your preferred genre of writing, you can probably relate to the excited feeling you get when you start working on something new. Whether it is a collection of poetry, the latest in your series of crime thriller novels, or a science fiction book about an alien invasion, the thrill of starting something new is always wonderful. It takes motivation and dedication, however, to maintain that feeling. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track.
1. Discover your own writing process. Some people write best first thing in the morning, while others do their best work before going to bed. Some people need to outline the entire plot of a novel before starting to write, while other start with one scene or a couple of characters and just let it unfold. Figure out the techniques that help you thrive.
2. Seek out a mentor. Find someone who is willing to guide you through your project, preferably a person who is a published author him or herself. It is even better if the person has published something in the genre in which you are working. You can share your drafts with this person and gain wisdom from his or her experience and expertise.
3. Save all of your work. You will probably add and remove things as you go, cutting out certain passages and occasionally even chapters. However, it is important to not throw anything away. Just put the removed work to the side; you may decide that you want to add it in again later, or you may find that you an use it for a different writing project.
4. Step back and take a break from the project when you need to. Sometimes, it helps to not look at the project for a few days, sometimes even for a few weeks. When you do return to look at it again, you will have a fresh perspective.
5. Have more than one person read your drafts. While you should certainly show them to your mentor, you will want to consult other people as well. It is a good idea to get as many different opinions as possible, and to ask lots of people for their suggestions. This may help you to reach and speak to a larger audience of readers.
6. Decide on a strategy for publishing and marketing. Traditionally, authors have submitted query letters and sample chapters to publishers in the hopes of having their books picked up. However, self publishing has become another viable option. There are services through which you can self-publish and print your own books, as well as electronic publishing, which allows you to self-publish e-books through sites like Amazon. This can sometimes be a lucrative venture.
Try to build on and draw from the momentum you establish at the beginning of your writing project. You may not maintain the same energy level throughout the whole thing, but you can use these strategies, such as talking with others or stepping away for a few days, to get your energy back. Keep at it until you have reached your goal of finishing.
1. Discover your own writing process. Some people write best first thing in the morning, while others do their best work before going to bed. Some people need to outline the entire plot of a novel before starting to write, while other start with one scene or a couple of characters and just let it unfold. Figure out the techniques that help you thrive.
2. Seek out a mentor. Find someone who is willing to guide you through your project, preferably a person who is a published author him or herself. It is even better if the person has published something in the genre in which you are working. You can share your drafts with this person and gain wisdom from his or her experience and expertise.
3. Save all of your work. You will probably add and remove things as you go, cutting out certain passages and occasionally even chapters. However, it is important to not throw anything away. Just put the removed work to the side; you may decide that you want to add it in again later, or you may find that you an use it for a different writing project.
4. Step back and take a break from the project when you need to. Sometimes, it helps to not look at the project for a few days, sometimes even for a few weeks. When you do return to look at it again, you will have a fresh perspective.
5. Have more than one person read your drafts. While you should certainly show them to your mentor, you will want to consult other people as well. It is a good idea to get as many different opinions as possible, and to ask lots of people for their suggestions. This may help you to reach and speak to a larger audience of readers.
6. Decide on a strategy for publishing and marketing. Traditionally, authors have submitted query letters and sample chapters to publishers in the hopes of having their books picked up. However, self publishing has become another viable option. There are services through which you can self-publish and print your own books, as well as electronic publishing, which allows you to self-publish e-books through sites like Amazon. This can sometimes be a lucrative venture.
Try to build on and draw from the momentum you establish at the beginning of your writing project. You may not maintain the same energy level throughout the whole thing, but you can use these strategies, such as talking with others or stepping away for a few days, to get your energy back. Keep at it until you have reached your goal of finishing.
