Beginning a writing project is both exciting and scary. It is thrilling to see the ideas that have been floating around in your head begin to take shape. Whether you are a writer of poetry, crime thriller novels, young adult paranormal romances, or some other genre, you will relate to the feeling of seeing a project start to become what you envision for it. Here are a few tips for getting started and staying motivated throughout the course of writing.
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. Find someone who can mentor you. Any new writer can benefit from the guidance of an experiences writer, especially one who has been published. If this person writes in a similar genre to yours, even better. Ask for his or her opinions on your work, as well as listening to general advice.
3. Save everything. As you are working, there will be passages, or perhaps entire chapters, that you decide do not fit into your vision for the book. Rather than discarding them completely, simply set them aside. You may find, once you get further in, that they do have a place in the book. Also, the may fit into future projects.
4. Step away and take a break when you need to. Sometimes you need a few days of working on something else, or a break from writing altogether. The break may even last for a couple of weeks or more. This is alright, as it can allow you to see your work with new eyes when you return.
5. Run your drafts past more than one person. You should definitely have your mentor look at your drafts, but you should have other people read them, too. It helps to get several different perspectives on the work, and to listen to the suggestions of various people. This will give you a better sense of how you can appeal to a wide audience.
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.
Take the excitement you feel at the beginning of your project, and use it to motivate you throughout the course of getting it finished. There may be moments when you no longer feel as thrilled about it as you once did. In those times, look back over this list. Speak to your mentor, or take some time away, but make sure you come back to the project eventually!
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. Find someone who can mentor you. Any new writer can benefit from the guidance of an experiences writer, especially one who has been published. If this person writes in a similar genre to yours, even better. Ask for his or her opinions on your work, as well as listening to general advice.
3. Save everything. As you are working, there will be passages, or perhaps entire chapters, that you decide do not fit into your vision for the book. Rather than discarding them completely, simply set them aside. You may find, once you get further in, that they do have a place in the book. Also, the may fit into future projects.
4. Step away and take a break when you need to. Sometimes you need a few days of working on something else, or a break from writing altogether. The break may even last for a couple of weeks or more. This is alright, as it can allow you to see your work with new eyes when you return.
5. Run your drafts past more than one person. You should definitely have your mentor look at your drafts, but you should have other people read them, too. It helps to get several different perspectives on the work, and to listen to the suggestions of various people. This will give you a better sense of how you can appeal to a wide audience.
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.
Take the excitement you feel at the beginning of your project, and use it to motivate you throughout the course of getting it finished. There may be moments when you no longer feel as thrilled about it as you once did. In those times, look back over this list. Speak to your mentor, or take some time away, but make sure you come back to the project eventually!
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