Use this section of our website as a resource. If you find that you aren't feeling as motivated as usual, or if you have an idea but don't know where to start, be sure to visit this section so you can receive the most up-to-date advice for writers.
The Writing Process
The writing process can be different for each writer. What works for one writer doesn't necessarily work for the next writer. Once you've written for awhile, you will develop your own writing routine. There are authors who treat their writing as if it is a business with schedules and breaks. There are also authors who write whenever the urge arises.
Until you have found your own writing routine, you can start out by making a writing schedule. You don't have to write every day (even though that is probably best, especially at first). But set up a schedule where you are writing at least every other day, and for at least a half an hour a day.
If, on a particular day, you don't have any idea of what you should write, then you can spend your time making a list of possible projects. Your writing time doesn't always have to consist of non-stop writing. You can also occupy your time by making a list of ideas, creating a business or marketing plan, proofreading, writing plot development or character development notes, etc.
Time management is a huge part of the writing process. Too often, we hear writers say that there just isn't enough time in the day for them to write. Our response is that if you want to write, you will make time. We've heard of writers writing their books on their lunch breaks at their 9-5 jobs or during time they'd formerly reserved as primetime TV time.
One piece of advice that could help make the writing process easier on you is to take detailed notes. Use a notebook to list title ideas for your story, describe the physical appearance and personality quirks of your characters, and list out possible plot points. Be sure to also include the summary of the story so you don't lose sight of where the story is going.
Many writers write a story from beginning to end, but there are some writers who choose to start their stories from the middle or end. Someone else can't tell you which way is right for you, but you can try each method and see which one appeals most to you.
Story Ideas
When it comes to developing a story idea, originality is key. There are some who would argue that it is near impossible to come up with original ideas nowadays, but we disagree. While some base concepts may be alike, there are always ways to infuse your own spin on concepts that might have been done before.
Writers often wonder what they should write about. There are many different places where you can receive
inspiration. Music, movies, life experiences, and dreams are all great places to seek inspiration. If you are scheduled to write and you're having trouble coming up with ideas, here are some tips that can help you.
1) Create playlists that have certain themes. These playlists should be meant to provoke certain emotions within you. There could be a playlist of sad songs, a playlist of upbeat songs, a playlist of music from a horror movie soundtrack. If you are trying to write an emotional drama novel, playing the sad song playlist would help to put you in the mindset you should be in when writing a heavy drama. Playing the upbeat songs might help you to effortlessly create the next bestselling romance comedy. Listening to the horror movie soundtrack playlist could inspire you to write the country's next big horror or thriller novel.
While listening to music and watching movies, keep in mind that you don't want to copy someone else's idea. The goal is to develop an idea that is completely your own.
2) Don't dismiss your life experiences so easily. Your life is what helped to create the person that you are today. And your life experiences could help you create characters and events that are believable, real, and relatable.
3) Dreams are as valuable as life experiences are. Note down interesting dreams that you have and review those notes. These dreams are treasure troves for you, and can result in refreshingly twisted story ideas.
Character Development
Character development is extremely important to a story. If you are successful in creating realistic characters, that can lend to the believability of the entire story. If you fail at creating interesting, relatable characters, that can ruin your credibility as a talented storyteller. Don't shortchange the characters in your story. They deserve to be fully developed and this takes time.
To avoid creating a character that is two-dimensional and boring, here are some tips.
1) Your characters should be like real people. If you gather a group of ten people in the same room, they will each have different personalities. Your characters should also have different personalities. This doesn't mean that two of your characters can't have similar personalities. Two characters can have similar personalities, but there should be a reason for this in the story.
2) Make sure your characters have personality quirks - you know, the way real people do. Is your character a smoker? Does he have allergies? Does she have a fear of heights? Does he have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder? Is she a kleptomaniac or a compulsive liar? Don't go crazy with the personality quirks. The last thing a story needs is a compulsive liar who has horrible allergies, a fear of heights, OCD, an addiction to nicotine, and a penchant for stealing. Remember that a character's personality should somehow serve the purpose of a story. It can be fun, creating characters and places, but don't forget that everything you do, you should be doing for a reason.
3) Make the dialogue believable while trying to avoid using slang. Slang and popular phrases do have a place in stories. If your book is a literary piece, a subtle use of slang can make your work sound more authentic. However when used heavily in mainstream pieces of work, slang often dates the story. Ten years from now, someone will read your book and wonder what a certain word or phrase means, because it's no longer being used. You can avoid this by using slang terms minimally.
4) Take a lot of notes. These notes will help to ensure that a character doesn't have green eyes on page 72 of your story and blue eyes on page 114.
Plot Development
You don't necessarily need to know how you want your story to end when you start writing it. It will be a lot less frustrating for you, though, if you have a general idea of the direction in which you'd like the story to go.
If you have no idea of where the story is going, you are "writing blind." Writing blind is a tough venture, even for some of the most talented writers. When you use this method, everything is significantly more difficult. Character development is supposed to serve a purpose in your story and it's hard to have that happen when you have characters walking and talking without knowing where your story is going.
Before even starting the story, it is best to sit down and write out your ideas on character and plot development. What are major plot points that you would like to happen in your story? Who are the main characters and what are their ticks? How would you like the story to begin? Here are some tips to help you with plot development.
1) Before writing one word of your story, write down a list of possible ways you'd like the story to start. Choose the scene that you think best serves the story and is the most attention- grabbing.
2) Be sure that there is a reason for each and every scene in your story. The rule of thumb is, if this one scene is removed from the story, that should somehow change the feel of the story. Yes. Each scene is THAT important. If your story would seem the same without a certain scene, then that scene either needs to be improved or removed.
3) Having scenes where characters talk and gossip endlessly might work for television shows such as "Friends" and "Seinfeld," but is a lot less likely to work for your story. Make each conversation count. Readers aren't often interested in the meaningless gossip of imaginary characters - again, unless there is a reason to their gossip. Is this scene meant to show that a particular character has the tendency to gossip, which will bear importance later in the story? Is this scene meant to show that one character is lying about something that happened in the past or something that will be happening in the near future? Is this scene meant to show something deeper about the relationship between the two speakers?
4) If you get stuck on a scene and don't know what to write after it, make a list of next possible scenes and select the best scene out of the list. If you have trouble with creating a list of next possible scenes, then close your eyes and picture the scenes in your story playing out as a movie. If this story were a movie, what would most likely happen in the next scene?
5) Keep the story exciting but establish a certain pace to your story. When it comes to thrillers and horror, there are those times when you want your reader to hold his or her breath, but there should also be times when the reader can exhale. For drama or inspirational books, there are those moments when your readers might be shedding tears, but there should also be moments that make the reader smile or laugh. Avoid creating a monotonous piece of work.
