Tips for Writers

So I'm sitting here looking out the window at a winter wonderland scene--nearly a foot of snow from the first significant storm of the season. I'm supposed to writing but instead I'm looking. Time to motivate myself to get a move on, maybe remind myself of some of the writing tips I've found useful.

Years ago, when I first determined to get serious about my writing, I started reading everything I could put my hands on about the craft of writing. I soon discovered that each writer has his or her own opinions about how to write. I offer a few ideas of my own for your consideration:

1. If you want to write, write. Every day, write. Writing requires discipline. No matter what is happening in your life—even if it's a distracting vision of winter loveliness before you—you must write. And not only that, you must train yourself to produce good copy.

2. Dive in. One of the scariest things in the world to a writer is a blank piece of paper or a blank screen. Get something—anything—down. If you don't know how to begin, start with the end or the middle or even with your byline. Just start.

3. Going along with the previous tip, it's important to get your initial thoughts down. Let those creative juices salivate and write the story as it comes to you. Don't worry initially about grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I've found that it's not always such a good idea to go back and edit your previous day's work. What seemed like wonderful prose and catchy dialogue the day before may now seem pretty awful, and you may be tempted to trash the project. I've found it's better to just get the whole thing down before doing any serious editing.

4. Don't get too eager to share your emerging writing project with others. Get the story down first. An odd suggestion? Perhaps, but I've found that if I share my project too early, I can lose the creative zest and momentum. The story idea can even fizzle out.

5. If you're having trouble getting started, do something playful first. Children, who are naturally creative, are playful. Copy their example. Before sitting down to write, laugh, stand on your head, get down on the floor and play with your toddler. Play releases the endorphins, I think. You feel lighter, freer, happier, more creative. Then, when you do sit down to write, your writer's block tower will tumble down.

6. If all else fails, put your coat and mittens on and go out and shovel the walk, which I plan to do right now...before I get back to my writing.