Category Archives for On writing

6 Lessons Learnt From Writing My First Novel

In October, I will finally publish my first novel.

This moment has been a long time coming. I started writing the first, roughest version of Above Ground back in early 2009, and not once did I think it would take me over three years to be where I am today.

Writing Above Ground has been a long journey. A hard journey. But — now that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel — it’s clear that this project has taught me more about writing than any other thus far.

Lessons Learnt From Writing My First Novel

  1. The first time’s the hardest.
    I started and abandoned three other novels before I hit upon Above Ground. Each time I’d given up because I’d hit a roadblock and didn’t know how to push on through. I’d never finished a novel before, didn’t know if I could finish a novel. I was so invested in my stories, so passionate, that when I hit a hard part I would get frustrated and quit.

  2. Perseverance is key.
    I learnt that the trick was to keep writing, to push out that draft — however awful — if only to give me the confidence that I COULD write a novel. I owe great thanks to the webfiction community, for what kept me writing Above Ground was that I posted each chapter online. It taught me to write regularly and to power through the tough bits. Not to mention that the reader comments and support gave me the confidence I needed to keep on going.

  3. It’ll never be perfect.
    One of the reasons why Above Ground has taken so long to complete is because I wanted it to be absolutely perfect. I’ve rewritten it twice, and as my writing style develops, I keep wanting to go back and amend, revise, improve… It’s not ready yet, I keep thinking. But you can only polish a stone so much; I’ve learnt when to let go.

  4. Outline, outline, outline.
    I utterly pantsed Above Ground, and while the subsequent editing and revisions taught me a lot of hard lessons about plot holes and character development, I’m determined to never be in that sticky situation ever again. I am an outlining-enthusiast now: it saves time, speeds up the writing process, and reduces rewriting.

  5. You get better at it.
    The projects I’ve worked on since starting Above Ground have been so much less daunting. The writing process has been smoother, with less revisions and rewriting. I’ve learnt what works for me, what to avoid. I’ve gained confidence.
    In the last year alone, I’ve outlined three more novels I’d like to write. The plot construction, pacing, character development… it comes more naturally now. It’s easier.

  6. You never stop learning.
    Writing Above Ground has helped me grow as a writer. But it has also shown me that writing improves with practice, and — like any other skill — the better you get at it, the more you want to learn.

No doubt I’ll come across new challenges with every book I write as my expectations for my writing grow, but at least now I know: I can do this.

What about you? What have you learnt from writing?

Eleven Rules For Writing Fiction

Before learning about characters and craft, there’s one BIG writing obstacle to overcome.

That’s right: I’m talking about the “get-your-ass-in-the-chair-and-write-already” obstacle.

Many writers, myself included, have a certain knack for not writing. We have no time, we have writer’s block, we can’t find the right words, that floor needs scrubbing, there are important YouTube videos to watch — the list of excuses goes on.

Here’s a few of my thoughts on how to keep the writing juices flowing….

11 Rules For Writing Fiction

  1. Name it!
    If I don’t have a title, I don’t know what the story’s about. I don’t own it, I don’t know where it’s going or why it needs to go there. Give your story a name. Give it an identity.

  2. Write.
    Don’t wait for some mythical moment of inspiration. Set yourself a schedule–half an hour every morning, Monday nights, every day from 4-4:15pm. Stick to it. If you must, write about not knowing what to write, until a better idea comes.

  3. Keep writing.
    Don’t let Google tempt you away. You know that 2-minute research for the perfect word or fact will turn into an hour-long YouTube session. If you’re stuck for a word, type BLA and keep going. Seriously, it’s what I do.

  4. Stop writing…
    …halfway through a scene or a sentence. Especially one of those delicious climax-type ones. The next time I sit down to write, I re-read a little of the scene and my muse goes into overdrive–it is far easier than starting with a blank page.

  5. Write what you want.
    Not what you think will sell. Not a copy of the latest bestseller (unless that’s what you want to write…). Find out what stories and problems matter to YOU, and your conviction will breathe life into your work.

  6. Don’t panic.
    Writer’s block? Think your story’s a failure? Stay calm, keep writing. A little bit of anxiety is good. Too much will stifle you. You can always fix things when you edit.

  7. Do procrastinate.
    (On occasion.) It’d good for you. But pick your activities carefully: stick to wordless, rhythmic activities like going for a long walk along, cleaning, etc. By not speaking or reading, you’ll find yourself back to writing sooner than expected.

  8. Have more than one idea on the go.
    When you hit the mid-story “OMG this story is crap why did I ever start it!?” slump, just switch to working on the other project until you calm down. Most people dislike their story at one point; it’s normal.

  9. Excercise!
    Nothing will distract you from writing more than back ache, neck ache, eye ache, headache… Unfold yourself from that seat and stretch a muscle or two.

  10. Avoid lists like this one.
    Seriously. You’ll end up spending the entire afternoon writing this list, instead of the #fridayflash you were MEANT to be writing. Ahem. Or you’ll end up reading this instead of writing. Sound familiar?

  11. Lastly…
    Well you’ve read this far. Give me a hand: what’s your eleventh rule for writing fiction?

Why Editing is like a Toothbrush

The other day I realised it’d been far too long since I’d given my teeth a proper deep clean.

I pulled out my weapons of torture (toothbrush, electric toothbrush, floss, tongue cleaner, mouthwash, and every other conceivable item) and set to work.

Courtesy of stock.xchng

Almost look like pens....

I flossed, brushed, brushed again, examined, poked my gums, gargled, and took the opportunity to stare at myself in the mirror. All the while I was thinking – daydreaming, really – about monkeys and zebras and quills and this blog.

Yup, this very blog.

Why do I limit myself to mainly writing about writing? I wondered. It’s my blog. I could write anything. What if my true calling is to write about teeth, and my single mindedness means I’m forever missing out?

Anna Harte, tooth cleaner. I considered the proposition. Then realised: I couldn’t just write about brushing teeth. There would have to be a deeper meaning. Something like — I spat out a white froth of mouthwash — the fact that no matter how much you clean, your teeth will never be 100% dirt-free.

Almost like a novel, in fact.

An editor at Random House once told me: “There is no such thing as the perfect book.” No matter how much you clean and inspect and proofread your novel, mistakes will get through.

Just like your teeth, your novel needs diligent cleansing. You may not catch every mistake, but you’ll stop them from multiplying into infections and cavities.

Do you want your novel to spend hours under the drill, being tortured and prodded and filled with amalgam?

No? I thought not. So pick up your editing toothbrush and get to work.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how my non-writing related post turned into one about writing. I suppose I’ve found my calling after all….

Where Story Ideas Come From

Where do you get your ideas?

It’s a question I’ve been asked time and time again, and really the only honest answer is Neil Gaiman’s: “I make them up. Out of my head.”

Ideas are a dime a dozen. They cling to every surface like soap suds — shivering, translucent, on the wrong side of delicate.

Yes: writing stories is like blowing bubbles. Sometimes your ideas burst on close inspection, other times you try and try but only produce lame-ass soap sprays.

The true true magic isn’t finding an idea, it’s growing one into a full-sized bubble. And the most magical moment of all is when you finish that story, that bubble, and release it into the air to travel further than you ever could.

Because it’s not where you come from, it’s where you are going that matters.

7 Ways to Start Writing Again

It’s every writer’s nightmare: you’re halfway through that story, the words are flowing, the characters witty, the plot twisty… and then disaster strikes:

You stop writing.

Whatever the reason, you stop writing. The story languishes half-written on your hard drive, and every passing day is another nail in the coffin. The characters become dim two-dimensional figures, their motivations faded, their personalities cracked.

Your story is a failure.

…or IS it?

In Episode 11 of Webfiction World, I look at abandoned stories and how to get back into the habit of writing. Joining me is author Becka Sutton, who has never missed an update in two years of writing online serials. While the podcast focuses on writing serial online fiction, much of the advice and commentary can apply to writing at large.

Why do people stop writing?

I’ve been there: I abandoned Above Ground.

Halfway through writing, I looked at the first chapters and realised they sucked. My writing — and my understanding of the characters and their motives — had developed so much that the first chapters were painful. I was ashamed of them. And as soon as that thought stuck, it was over. I couldn’t face going back and editing, couldn’t face continuing.

I stopped writing.

Your reason may be different. You may have run out of momentum, run out of ideas. Your plot isn’t meaty enough, your characters wander aimlessly; there’s nothing to say.

Or you’ve launched ahead without an outline and written yourself into a corner. There are gaping plot holes, pointless scenes, and you completely forgot to introduce the bomb that plays a pivotal role in the climax.

Or it could be something even simpler: lack of time. If you don’t have a routine, it’s easy to fall out of the rhythm of writing. As Becka Sutton wisely says, “It’s very hard to make a good habit, but once you break it, it tends to stay broken.”

Whatever your reason, don’t worry: you can bring your story back to life. All it takes is dogged determination, something which all writers should have in spades.

7 Ways to Start Writing Again

  1. Make it a habit. Set aside a time each day or week. Put your butt in the chair. Write. Doesn’t matter what you are writing, as long as you write. Get into the routine of writing before your tackle that unfinished story.

  2. Outline. The pantsers amongst you will be cringing, but this is the best way to avoid writing yourself into a corner. It can have as much or as little detail as you want, so long as you have enough to keep going.

  3. Write to deadlines. Set yourself small, achievable targets. One chapter a week, 300 words a day; you decide. The pressure of a deadline, and the satisfaction of meeting it, helps maintain motivation.

  4. Peer pressure. Find some enthusiastic readers who’ll pester you for more. It’ll be harder to abandon the story when doing so disappoints more than just your muse.

  5. Start from scratch. If your abandoned story isn’t working, go back to the start. Make outlines, fill in the plot holes, pin down the character motives, trim or expand upon the story as needed. Make it work — then start writing.

  6. Keep a buffer. If you are writing to deadlines (whether posting online or otherwise), build up a buffer. You want to write a chapter a week? Great: have four in reserve. That way if you’re sick one week, you won’t beat yourself up for having missed a deadline.

  7. Post online. If you really find it hard to finish a story, consider posting it online. I’d started and abandoned three novels before I turned to webfiction. When I finally did, the combination of peer pressure, regular deadlines, and reader interaction gave me the motivation I couldn’t find alone.

How do you keep yourself writing? What would you recommend to those looking to get their butt back in the writing chair?