How-To Writing Books

Greetings All!

Today I want to talk about a few writing books I've read recently that have jump-started my passion and creativity. These weren't books on writing outlines or characterization or such topics, though I've read my share of those, but more about the writing lifestyle and how to get more out of each writing session. Really, when you get right down to it, these are "self-help" writing books. 

I'm going to make this short. I'm not going to go over each one, but make a general note about my overall experience reading these books. I will link the main books I'm talking about at the bottom of this post, so you can check them out individually if you are so inclined. I will also say that, for the most part, I didn't agree with everything said in each book, but it doesn't matter. I got a few nuggets from each that I feel will help my writing career, so each was worth it. I'll list a few things I learned (or had reinforced) to better help some of you who might be, like me, floundering about a bit in the actual writing of a book.

First, I realize I need to actually schedule time to write. My writing schedule has been, for the most part, every day, but whenever I feel like it. Nope. I need to have a set time each day so my creative brain knows it's time to get, well, creative. For me, I've decided I want to spend at least one hour each day. Since my summer break is just about over, I've decided I'm going to set my alarm for 5 am each morning and write for a half-hour before getting ready for work. I will then take another half-hour before bed, probably at 8 pm, to finish up my hour. If my schedule allows it each day, I will get some writing time in, but no matter what, I'll have that hour in.

Next, I need to start writing during my writing time. Actual story words, not plotting and outlining words. I'm one of those who noodles with an idea for a while before getting it into an outline. Then I'd decide that outline needs to be revised before I can start my first draft. Maybe more than once. No longer. I need to get writing. If I don't know everything that's happening, so what? Have fun with it. I don't plan to go full "pantser," but I need to learn to trust my creative brain much more often. So often in my past writing life I would have the big outline and go off the rails anyway, meaning I'd need to spend more time fixing the outline after I made the story better by going off-script. Why waste time making such a detailed outline when my writing brain is up to the task to write a good story?

Finally, I learned some great tips about how to get unstuck when I get stuck (as will undoubtedly happen when everything isn't scripted out in advance). My favorite is to have a pad of paper next to my computer to freewrite for a few minutes about the problem, which should hopefully lead to a solution. Also, before that happens, I like the idea of writing a quick freewrite for a few minutes before the actual writing session about what I plan to write. It's not quite an outline, but it will still serve to get the creative brain working. Another idea I liked was the advice to simply write the next sentence. If it doesn't work, it's easy enough to get rid of, but the simple task of writing it can very well lead to the real words being unleashed. 

As I said, these books helped excite me for writing again. I had spent most of the summer plotting a book that I was starting to hate. I decided to spend some time reading instead, and I became invigorated. I decided it was time to jettison the book I was no longer excited about and start a new one with a new plan of attack. Will it ultimately get me out of my writing slump and help me finish a book for the first time in a long time? I hope so, and I plan on doing all I can so it's true. Of course, I will let you know how it works out! 

As promised, here are a few links to the books I found helpful. Like I said earlier, not everything in these sparked me, but enough points did that I had to share. I pulled out the tips I thought would help and ignored those that didn't. Hope some of this helped a few of you. And if not, I hope you enjoyed the post. Happy writing!

2,000 to 10,000: How to Write Faster, Write Better, and Write More of What You Love by Rachel Aaron

5,000 Words Per Hour: Write Faster, Write Smarter by Chris Fox

Lifelong Writing Habit: The Secret to Writing Every Day by Chris Fox

Writing Into the Dark: How to Write a Novel Without an Outline by Dean Wesley Smith