Rob Writes

Three Tips for Writing Success

One challenge that faces many writers is getting the job done. If you are like many other writers out there, hoping to move on to the “professional writers” group this is something you need to take to heart. So with no further ado here are three tips for writing success.

Work on one thing at a time until it is finished. This should be a simple thing, but in today’s multi-tasking world it isn’t. This is especially true when you think about writing. We all get ideas and get very excited about them. ‘Caught up in the moment’ is a phrase that comes to mind.

When speaking of writing, new is exciting. New is that squirrel we end up chasing; that shiny light, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Getting bogged down in sections of a long project (your latest book, screen-play or musical) can drive you to distraction. Distraction is a welcome relief, but doesn’t help you get to completion. Only drive and tenacity will get you to those final two words: the end.

Skipping ahead in a project is one way to stay on track without moving into a new project. You may have a transition section of your book that is proving elusive. You know the end game, but steps three, four and five are proving to be cumbersome.

Move on to section six. This is a sure way to distract yourself from the muck and mire, while still forging ahead towards completion. Just as you will often wake up at three in the morning with the name of that elusive song, or television show, you can distance yourself from a section of your book and suddenly the answer (and plot points) will jump into your conscious mind from your subconscious. An aha moment can be found more easily sometimes when you stop looking for it.

Point two – Start no new books or articles until the last thing is complete. This is a hard and fast rule, except when it isn’t. The exception comes down to income or marketing (which turns into income eventually.)

If an opportunity to make money from writing comes down the pike while you are still working a regular job – take it. This can lead to greater opportunities and/or getting your name out as a writer. Consignment jobs (ghost writing, article writing, co-authoring) can also help to build your confidence level as a writer and nothing drives people more than a looming deadline. ‘Get it done and move on.’

Finally point three – Don’t sweat the details on a first draft. So many people get caught up in getting it right that they never get it done. A fantastic writing exercise is ‘stream of consciousness’ writing. Put your pen to paper (or your fingers on the keyboard) and just write. If you can’t think of anything to write, write ‘I am having trouble writing because…’ and fill in the blanks. No one really has writer’s block ever. We just have a block towards certain writing. Plow your way through your writing and go back and edit. Get it done. Get out of your own way.

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Managing Kindle for PC (or other app)

I had a few folks asking me about reading “Kindle” books if you don’t have a Kindle. Well, there are aps for any sort of device – PC, iPad, iPhone, or whatever. (couldn’t imagine reading on an iPhone, personally. Screen is way too small.)

But anyway, you can download a free app for any of those devices from Kindle. Visit here.

Once you’ve downloaded it, you can get your digital purchases delivered. Sign in to your amazon account and go to digital downloads. You’ll have to scroll down until you get to this section here:

Once you click on that you’ll see a section called your Kindle Library. You want to click on the “actions” button on the right side of the screen next to the book you want to read. (After you do this once it will be in the library on your tablet or computer.)

Once you do that, you can click on the “deliver to my” option.

So close. This takes way longer to explain than it does to actually do… After that you simply use the drop -down to select what device you want the book delivered to. PC, Tablet, Kindle. One purchase and you can send it to all your devices..

Then click “Deliver” and you are set to read..

Of course you’ll want to be reading Blaze Motors and Someone Else’s Tomorrow. If you’re an aspiring author, there is also “Write here, write now, no excuses.” All three cost a grand total of $6.97.

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Ernest Hemmingway

Too often I find myself needing this advice from Hemingway. I think what helps is to identify characters as people I have known in my life. Then I can think, “what would he do in this sort of situation?” It can help to keep things grounded and real.

___________

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Finding your writing voice

One thing that is nearly impossible to teach is finding your writing “voice.” This is the thing that makes you unique. It could be you have a a “here’s the facts, ma’am” style or you enjoy using a lot of puns or word play in your writing, but it is the thing that will gain you and audience.

So how do you find your voice? Mostly it’s just practice, but there is a bit more to it. You may identify authors and emulate their style or incorporate their voice a bit, and that’s fine, because you will never really capture anyone else’s style completely. It will become you.

For me, voice comes to to two things; taking chances and following your passion.

Taking chances means working way outside your comfort zone. You don’t have to publish or even allow anyone to see what you are writing, but don’t limit it. Try stream of consciousness or eliminating punctuation or other ideas that may seem crazy and may yield crazy results, but try it.

Follow your passion. Don’t look at some trend, like 50 Shades of Gray and decide you are going to write a novel in that genre. (Unless S&M spanking and bondage are your passions.) Your true voice will come out when you write about things you are passionate about. We all have passions in life and people share those passions. If you find a niche market to write for, the people will read your stuff.

(A caveat, if you can’t put together a readable sentence, grammar and sentence structure can be taught. Make that effort and then write passionately about it.)

So back to our message, passion. If you are passionate about muscle cars, specifically Corvairs, write about them. Upkeep, maintenance, rebuilding, parts, etc, etc. Niche it down and write with passion.

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Henry Miller on writing

Here are some great thoughts on writing. “How to” from one of the greats – Henry Miller.

1. Work on one thing at a time until finished.

2. Start no more new books, add no more new material to “Black Spring.”

3. Don’t be nervous. Work calmly, joyously, recklessly on whatever is in hand.

4. Work according to Program and not according to mood. Stop at the appointed time!

5. When you can’t create you can work.

6. Cement a little every day, rather than add new fertilizers.

7. Keep human! See people, go places, drink if you feel like it.

8. Don’t be a draught-horse! Work with pleasure only.

9. Discard the Program when you feel like it—but go back to it next day. Concentrate. Narrow down. Exclude.

10. Forget the books you want to write. Think only of the book you are writing.

11. Write first and always. Painting, music, friends, cinema, all these come afterwards.

If you found these helpful/interesting you might want to read the book they came from Henry Miller on Writing.

You also might want to consider buying my second novel, Blaze Motors.

Cheers to you all and happy writing!

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Panster or Plotter

So are you a panster or a plotter? The verdict is still out, but I think we are all guilty of each to a small degree.

Snidely Whiplash, the ultimate plotter

If you have no idea what I am talking about join the club. Up until a couple days ago I had never heard of a panster and a plotter was someone rubbing their hands together in a mwa ha ha sort of way. But now I find out I am a little of each.

A panster is someone who writes their novels, short stories or whatever, by the seat of their pants. (get it pants- panster?) They put pen to paper, or more likely start typing, but never know where they are going with the plot until they get there.

On the flip side, a plotter is going to have the story laid out in an out line format of some sort. If you are a deviated plotter you probably have venn diagrams, splintered story diagrams, flow diagrams and character reference sheets.. (no, wait.. that’s me)

Plotter vs Panster. There is no versus. This isn’t really Spy vs Spy (thank you Mad Magazine.)

We all have some elements of each in us. Even the most free thinking panster has an idea of how the story is going to end, or at least a story arc of some sort.

And I know, as a plotter, my stories sometimes veer off and head into the sunset taking my careful diagrams with it, and I am forced to restructure. That’s okay.

It’s a beautiful world full of colors. This isn’t a black and white world. We can all get along and sometimes even co-author.

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