Are you here? All new writers start from this stage, and every veteran writer circles back to this stage before each project.
The start. The empty page. The moment of bravado.
For some, it’s daunting; for others, exciting. I’ve found it to be a mixture of both. Beginnings hold so much potential. The world is literally in your hands. And whether you come to this empty page by way of plotting, or outlining, or simply flying off the seat of your pants (AKA “pantsing”) the singular fact is this:
You have to finish the book.
The start. The empty page. The moment of bravado.
For some, it’s daunting; for others, exciting. I’ve found it to be a mixture of both. Beginnings hold so much potential. The world is literally in your hands. And whether you come to this empty page by way of plotting, or outlining, or simply flying off the seat of your pants (AKA “pantsing”) the singular fact is this:
You have to finish the book.
To be honest, it is the hardest thing to do. It's in the course of the book that plans fail. It is in the course of the book you'll run out of things to say. It’s when doubts settle in, and you start to wonder what the heck you got yourself into. It’s when truth dawns that:
Scary, right? But I have some hints.
I wish you luck! You are the most valuable commodity in this endeavor. Your voice. Your work. I know you can do it.
- You are the only one who has control and
- If you have nothing to put on the page, then there will be nothing to revise, to edit, or submit.
Scary, right? But I have some hints.
- Make Goals: Long and short term goals. I do lifetime, 5 year and 3 year goals that encompass my dreams. Then, I break it down to yearly, monthly and weekly goals that are concrete. I also have daily priority sheets. Some might find that too stifling. It keeps me on track. It turns dreams into accomplishments.
- Set a schedule that’s right for you. For me, I figured out that the best time for me to write is in the morning before all of my children wake. This is purely personal! Know, however, that there is no substitute for time in this endeavor. There are no shortcuts to putting words on a page.
- Actually do the work. Love it, but take it seriously. It doesn't mean you lose your love for writing. It simply means you will make it a priority in your life.
- Movement forward. Get to the end of each sentence, each page, each chapter. Do not look back. If I find that have additional words for a previous page, I make a note of it for first pass revisions and keep going.
- Find a buddy. There's nothing like an accountability group or person to keep you motivated especially through challenging moments. Eventually, these people may become your critique partners. (more on that later).
- Celebrate. Reward yourself when you meet your word count goals. Shout it from the rooftops. Spoil yourself.
I wish you luck! You are the most valuable commodity in this endeavor. Your voice. Your work. I know you can do it.
