Posted: 2007
FORUM TOPIC: Three questions a writer should consider before writing a manuscript.
PREFACE: The text in this and future articles has been researched and blended with knowledge
the author has acquired from his own personal experiences.
* DO I WANT TO WRITE FOR THE SHEER PLEASURE OF ENTERTAINING MYSELF AND OTHERS?
If the answer is yes, then by all means get pen and pencil or on your computer and begin.
You never know, it just might become your profession.
* DO I WANT TO TELL A STORY THAT'S BEEN CRAWLING AROUND IN THAT GREY MATTER BETWEEN MY EARS?
If this is the case, don't start. Because you will never finish it. Spend
your time doing something more productive.
* DO I WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL WRITER?
If your answer is yes, then you must mean that you want to earn a living writing.
If so, be ready to spend a significant amount of time and energy. Also, expect a visit from an old friend of most writer,
rejection.
Starting a manuscript and finishing it are two very different objectives. It is
true that almost everyone has a story to tell, but most don't know or understand how to go about putting it into
words. I don't mean you need an English Degree to write a story. When it comes to the mechanics
of writing you can find or hire people to help you with editing. It's more important to tell story that
a reader can follow.
It has been said that a writer shouldn't fear writing a bad novel. Don't worry
about how good or bad your story going to be, just write it. If you think it turned out bad. Write another one.
In fact, there a few writers who make one hell of a good living writing bad novels. The truth of the matter is you're
a writer. If you weren't, you wouldn't have finished it.
So, please, don't worrying about writing a best selling novel your first time.
Just write and finish what you have started. Everything comes in time to those who sweat to get it (well, maybe
not everyone). But, remember, success is measured in many ways.
Many well known writers wrote five or six novels before their first one got published.
I'm not going to begin naming them, that would take a full column.
Try to remember what a very successful writer once said, "For a true writer each
book should be a new beginning. He must try again and again to achieve what's beyond attainment. He should
always try for what has never been done or what others have tried and failed. With a lot of effort, perserverance and
a bit of luck, one might succeed".
Always be ambitious, but be realistic in your goals. In other words, don't bite
off more then you can chew. Remember, experience leads to absolute knowledge.
A good way to begin writing is to set a certain time of your day to work. I suggest
two to four hours in a place where you feel comfortable. What's most important is "sticking to it".
A novel generally takes between 1500 and 2000 hours to write. Some writers form
a habit of writing one day and the next day edit the hell out of what they have written. Then again, some writers complete
a chapter and then edit. But, you do what suits you best.
First time novelist sometimes don't realize that a story has a beginning, middle and
an ending. In the case of romance writers, they usually work by a formula consisting of; boy meets girl, boy get
girl, toss in a little conflict and in the end, boy kisses girl and they ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after.
Whatever subject that you select for your novel, be aware of one very important
fact, your first paragraph has to have a "hook" to persuade the reader to continue reading. A hook is
basically something to grab the reader's interest or curiosity to keep turning the pages.
Some experienced writers create a chapter by chapter outline to help guide them from
beginning to the end. Others take that one step further and also create and describe their main characters. This
can help in dialogues and building scenes.
With your story's plot fixed in your mind let your creative juices go to work.
Your subconscious rules in the creative department. Confidence in what you're writing will help steer you from beginning,
toward the middle and all the way to the ending.
Speaking of the ending, that's really when your work begins. It's time for your
final editing. Get ruthless, cut out the week parts, take out the useless words and watch your use of adjectives.
Don't over describe a person or situation.
Some say, the more you write the easier it gets. Well, if it does, I sure as heck haven't
found that to be in my humble endeavors. Researching a subject, charting plots, creating characters, learning dialogue,
giving it your best at editing, re-editing and editing some more don't sound easy to me.
Well, I hope you enjoyed our little chat. Till the next
time, remember write, write and re-write. Of course, slip in some reading time, especially in the genre you're writing.
Oh, if you wish to make a comment, whether it be good or bad, do it. Now, go softly
into the night. mgf
P.S. BUY MY BOOK. Thank you.
