The First 4 Steps to Becoming a Writer

In my six years of writing, its only been recently that I've really discovered these steps that are really a necessity of becoming an author. At least I think so. They were pretty important to me anyway.

• Step 1 - Figure Out What Kind of Writer You Are: I mentioned in the earlier post that I had only recently come to grips with the fact that I'm an outliner. So, for a long time, I did all of my writing by discovery writing, which didn't usually turn out so great. My only reason for discovery writing was I hated writing outlines. I still do which is why I do all of them in my head. But figuring out if your a discovery writer or an outliner is very important because it makes writing that much easier. Forcing yourself to write in a way that's unnatural to you will only make the writing process more frustrating because it won't flow as easily.
• Step 2 - Finding a Place/Time to Write: Some times, its easier to write in some places then in others. For example, its easier for me to write in a desk then on a couch. Some might be the other way around, I don't know. But being comfortable makes writing easier because you can focus on it better. So I think finding a writing spot is very useful. And finding a specific time of day to focus all of your attention on writing is good. Setting aside time when you can just write for an hour or two whether you have ideas or not really gets you going. This could be late at night or early in the morning, but I think its important to have a specific time to write everyday so you don't fall out of the habit. Note: If you are sleeping and the voices in your head are sort of figuring stuff out, that would have to count as writing as you are getting something done on your book. Cool, huh! :)
• Step 3 - Willing to Commit: As nice as it would be, a novel can't be written over night. It takes a lot of time. Months. Its time that you need to be willing to devote a lot of your time to. I've had this problem a lot. I've got at least nine books started and have gotten distracted from it by another idea I had. Don't do that! Other ideas need to wait. Just focus on one book at a time and you'll get it done faster. Don't move onto another project until the first one's done otherwise you'll never finish anything. If you're not willing to commit, I suggest not even starting the book. Just let it float around in your head till it dies off.
• Step 4 - Finding the Idea: Your story idea is obviously hugely important. But honestly, you need to find an idea that's not only good, but that you really like. If you don't like it that much or its likely you'll get bored of it, your probably going to fail step three. Finding the right idea that never gets old in your head makes writing it that much more fun and easier.

So there you have it. My first and hopefully fail-safe plan to becoming a writer. It doesn't mean you'll be a good one, but hey, you'll hopefully have more fun! But honesty, I've discovered these steps through many mistakes of my own, so these steps aren't just made up, they come from someone who really knows . . . stuff. I hope it helps. :)

The Terrors of Starting a New Project

I've been writing for about six years now, and in all that time, I have never once finished a book. Sure, I've started pretty much all of them, and I have plans for most of them, but never once have I finished one. Not even Dragon Masters which has been around since thebeginning.

However, a friend and I have made a deal that we will both finish a book this summer. Scary! Seeing as I've only written beginnings, it scares me to think of putting all of my planning into a story and hoping it works out right. I suppose I need to learn not to expect too much from myself seeing as this is just a first draft. They're meant to suck, that way you can learn and by learning, grow and by growing become a better author. So its okay to suck at first. But still, finishing a book? That's both exhilarating and scary.

There's a new project that I'm trying to focus on now. I'm relatively confident in this I suppose . . . I mean, I spent over a month researching stuff for it. Plus by now I've come to grips with the fact that I'm not a discovery writer at all but very much an outliner so I can sit down and plan out exactly what I'm going to do, but still. Its daunting. I mean, I picked a heck of a project to be my first. My biggest fear is that I'm going to do it wrong. But at the same time, I'm excited to write a book that I would've liked to read. Talk about contradictions. So far I've only written the prologue which very much needs work and part of the first chapter - also in need of much help. At the moment, I'm not entirely sure what to do, but that's okay! I'll figure it out! I have to keep reminding myself that I can do it or I might lax off.

Overall though, the biggest thing holding me back is my little "revelation" this year. I mentioned Dragon Masters earlier and its only been this year that I've discovered just how bland that story is. I'm getting used to the idea now (three months later) but I'm still frustrated. I mean, I had been writing that book for six years and for nothing! All that I could be proud of (and don't get me wrong. I am proud of it) was my characters. They were round and real but everything else was sorely lacking. My plot, setting, relationship development, flowing, etc. I've had to set that project aside just because it still makes me angry to think about it. For awhile there, I had looked at it as wasting six years of writing.

Yeah, I'm more optimistic now. I've convinced myself that just because I stunk then doesn't mean I'm going to stink forever. After all, I'm still young, I've got plenty of time to improve myself and I'm glad that I realized this about myself as early as I did. Still though, as frustrating and pathetic as it may sound, I think that deep down, I'm afraid that in another six years, I'm going to look back and see myself just as I am now. I don't want that for this book!

Reading this, your probably thinking something along the lines of, "Oh my goodness, just get over it. Its just a book." But understand me. I'm a freak in the way I'm obsessed with my writing. But its more to me then just a story. When I'm published, I don't want to just entertain my readers with a hopefully good novel. I want them to take something good from it. To see a message, to find something in it. In a way, I want people's lives to be somehow a little bit better by reading my books. Although, if you've read my stuff, you'll probably think that that'll never happen, but hey, you've never read gone inside my head and seen the end of the book before. :)

Now, starting this new project, I will see it through to the end! Its time for me to stop getting distracted by other ideas and focus! I need to set aside my fears and plow through this, with the knowledge that yeah, its going to stink. But that'll be okay.

To end, it just seems right to do it with a silly quote. "It took Thomas Edison 1000 tries to invent a lightbulb. When asked, he said 'I didn't fail. I found 999 ways not to make a lightbulb.' But he only needed to find one way to make it right."

(Actually I just kind of made that up and stole some of it from the first National Treasure movie) :)