Carve Out Time to Write

It's not always easy to find a large block of time to write. Sometimes we must be satisfied with a few minutes here and there.

I have found that there is time during a substitute teacher's day to get a little writing in--while students are taking a test or are at a specialty class, or during the teacher's prep period.

Utilizing these little blocks of time works well for some aspects of the writing process, but not all.

Revising

A critical part of the writing process is the revision stage. It's not always the most fun part of writing, but it is vital to producing a polished finished product.

When I begin a writing project, I initially don't worry about such things as grammar, punctuation, or even readability. I focus strictly on getting my story down. Once that is accomplished, then comes the challenge of re-reading the piece over and over again. Where, at first, I am the creator, now I must become the editor.

Each time I go through the piece, I scrutinize it for different things. One time I may look at how the story flows, whether or not the plot makes sense, where the bottlenecks are, whether all the questions are answered. Another time I will focus on grammar, punctuation--and at this stage I must be very picky. Is there an extra space between two words? Are the ellipses handled correctly? That kind of thing.

Again, this can be quite--even very--tedious. But it is essential.

One of the last things I like to do is read the piece out loud. I catch a lot of errors that way.

That's where I am today on my newest junior fiction novel, Return of the Schmurthies. For several months now I've read through that book--dozens of times (and I'm not even joking)--revising and re-revising. Today, I will read it as my readers will read it--straight through. How sweet it is!

Ideas

Where does an author get his or her ideas about which to write?

Ideas are all around us. They come from reading a newspaper or magazine article. They come from overhearing a snippet of a conversation. They come from a dream...or a nightmare. They come from asking question, like "What would happen if...?"

There is no limit to the number of ideas out there. The problem is capturing those ideas before the flea, for ideas for very elusive.

I keep a little pad of paper and pen on the nightstand so that if I think of an idea during the night, I can jot it down because chances are I'll forget it by morning. Carrying a small notebook, or even a folded up piece of blank paper, in one's purse or pocket is a great idea--especially if you develop the habit of actually jotting down ideas and thoughts on it.

Phyllis A. Whitney's Idea for a Writer's Notebook

Years ago I ran across a book by Phyllis A. Whitney in which she gave tips on writing a book of fiction. One part of the book showed how to create a writer's notebook to use when planning and writing a book.

When I studied Phyllis's book, it was like a light turned on for me. Writing a book suddenly became easier and more enjoyable. I found a writer's notebook so helpful in organizing my thoughts and research. It was great having everything I needed for a current (or even future) book project in one handy notebook.

I didn't use the notebook for the last book I wrote and I lived to regret it.

The whole idea is divide the notebook into sections: Such as Characters, Plot, Setting, Research, Future Book Ideas. Then, as an idea comes to you, you just jot it down in the appropriate section. That way, that idea is available to you  when you need it.

I have found when I am hatching an idea for a book, as well as when I'm up to my earlobes in the writing process, snatches of ideas will come to me at all times of the day. If I don't have the good sense to write them down, then that idea vanishes in thin area.

I recommend this book by Phyllis A Whitney for the experienced writer as well as the rookie:
http://www.phyllisawhitney.com/Guide%20to%20Fiction%20Writing.htm