We all know this to be true. For me, there is about three layers to writing. The mental preparations, the act of writing, and revising.
Step 1. Be Mentally Prepared
I get so wrapped up in having lots to do, that I convince myself that I need to be in the best writing mood to start writing. This is usually at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning when I’m sitting in a chair by the window with a piping hot cup of coffee. Or it is Sunday afternoon when I’m in the local coffee shop listening to musicians. The other days, I get distracted binge watching Reign and reruns of Friends.
This is the worst idea to have. Sure, being mentally prepared to write is all good in theory, but that does not mean you should slack off on other times. I mean, just last night I forced myself to write. It was a struggle at first, the words seemed to stick to my mind. I felt like I was peeling labels off a bottle—did you know those are specific waterproof adhesives that are created by companies that make reusable stickers? Sorry, back to the main point. I forced myself to power through and I got a few strong scenes down for the novel I’m working on.
But sometimes it is good to be mentally prepared. Since I’ve been slacking and focusing on my day job and having fun with friends, I’ve completely forgotten how writing a novel can take over your entire life. The characters start to feel so real, that if you don’t care about them outside of writing time, you aren’t doing them justice. Just yesterday, I was yelling in my kitchen for a character to tell me why she was upset so that I could write about it. It actually worked, she told me. (I promise I’m not completely insane, and if you do think I’m insane, you probably shouldn’t be a writer. Or just go back to your blog post on cheese.) It’s so important to know more about your characters than your audience.
Step 2. Write
When I was in college reading Stephen King’s On Writing, King said he wrote at least six hours a day. I was so taken aback back then. I think it’s because my attention runs everywhere. Literally, just writing the sentence I’ve wondered if hippos ever get too fat to pull themselves out of the water, if deer can get things caught in their hooves the way humans get things caught in their teeth, what if wolves flossed, maybe that’s why vultures can eat grisly food and not worry about it getting caught in their teeth. Wait, what was I talking about, oh right focusing. Well, clearly I can’t focus for six hours, but could I? Because that is even less than a normal work day. What makes this different than any other job that you are passionate about and I work 8 hours there. I think I could do it better if I wasn’t writing at home. King has his own study, while I write laying sideways on my couch. (I turn the laptop sideways, too.)
But writing when I was younger was journaling and just abstractly creating scenes for novels I’d never finish. Okay, maybe I still do that a little. But that’s the thing, write. Even if it’s crap just keep writing. Sometimes, I start writing the most boring thing with no sense of words or direction, but all of a sudden I get in the swing of words and then pump out something halfway decent.
For every other passion, you have to warm up. At soccer, you dribble around the field and run; for basketball, you practice layups; and for cross country, you run half a mile before your three-mile race. Writing is no different. So get that scratch paper, that blank word document and just write. It actually makes the act of writing easier and the writing you produce stronger.
Step 3. Rewrite Right
Rewriting is super easy for me to do when it’s anyone’s work but my own. I get to copyedit at my job and I’m like, oh yeah! I fix these directions so they make sense. Then I reread my own poem or short story and am like red alert! Red alert! I don’t know how to writer. Why am I doing this? Anyone else feel me on this?
Things that help me edit:
- Editing at a table or at someplace new. This allows me to focus on the words and not have previous ideas cloud my editing process. Also, if you go in public, you can’t have a mental breakdown about whether you should be using an em-dash or comma. And the reason for me doing it at a table is because it reminds me of being at school and editing things efficiently and quickly.
- Know your editing marks. I took a class on editing and learned all the proofreader marks. This both helps you quickly edit your papers while also proving you care more than just the art form and other who look at your papers will know you are focused and serious about being a writer. (This will also help you with copyeditor relations down the line.) I highly suggest Copyediting and Proofreading for Dummies or Elements of Style.
- Read books on editing. Bookmark that Grammar Girl page (even if you’re a guy, it’s okay. It’s not like the stigmatism of buying fruity drinks at the bar.) Research things on Webster’s (it’s good for more than points in Scrabble.) And find friends that have the Chicago Manual of Style. It’s seriously a great read.
- Ask someone else who edits for help. My biggest thing is I ask friends who don’t write to read my writing. Sure, sometimes that is your audience, but don’t be scared of getting real harsh writer feedback. Also, don’t be scared of telling them to snuff it when they are wrong.
These things work for me, So tell me, what works to help you write?