₦airaland Forum

[quote author=Larry-Sun]Laziness in a writer can breed some great plots, I'm not advising laziness though. Can't wait to see your work.

Bless you, ma'am.[/quote]lol thanks Larry. Maybe when I'm done with the rough(which i just started btw), I'll mail it to you to read through..if u don't mind that is .

[quote author=Larry-Sun]Great stuff there. Thanks a lot, UJ. The tips'll help me.[/quote]Larry the Great? lol you're welcome.

I should get that plot in my head on paper......once i get over my laziness that is

luvmijeje: Op thanks,very timely thread.Bookmark

actually had you in mind when i read it. Hope u found it helpful.

Golly gee Mynd, didn't know you were moderating here too

Something i got in my mailbox

1) Set a goal and mark it on your
calendar. You'll give yourself 8-10
weeks to rough draft a full story. (That's all the time you'll give yourself. Seriously. You're making a commitment to your dream.) It will take 2-3 times as long for
the revisions and polishing...but that's a topic for another chat.

2) Before you actually start writing, jot down what you envision as the most important elements of the story. Whose story is this? What's the central conflict and how will it be resolved? What do I hope to
give the reader, and who is your reader? What are the main dramatic events that will occur?

3) You will write 6 days a week, at least 90minutes each day for the 8-10 weeks you've assigned on your calendar. You can do this
any time of the day or night that you like, in a single block or break up the time into 20-30 minute segments. If you "screen stare" and don't produce pages when faced with a timed period, then set a page limit instead. Don't get up until you have your 4, 5, or 10 pages for the day. I aim for 10-12
pages, double-spaced, 12-pt font, each day. That's 60-70 pages a week (rough), and 480 pages at the end of 8 weeks. More than
enough for a draft.)

4) Stop worrying over details. Turn off the brain and just write! By writing a fast, messy first draft, relying more on your subconscious than on straining to make the story perfect, you learn the story by telling it to yourself on paper. You also meet and become familiar with your characters. The plot that you had buzzing in your head fleshes itself out more fully as you write.

5) Become a mobile writer. Buy more writing time by writing not just at home but wherever you are. On lunch breaks, on the Metro, in the airport, on a bus, waiting for your dental appointment. We
have technical tools that enable this--phones, tablets, laptops--but there's always paper and pen when all else fails.

6) Write during your high-energy
period of the day or night. Morning people should write in the morning; night owls at night. That's when you're most productive and the writing will be
easiest.

7) Turn off your inner critic and ignore the naysayers. Instead, tease yourself forward with positive talk. "I'm not writing a BOOK, I'm just writing a little scene today." It's too intimidating to think of writing a whole novel, so relax, take small bites--you're just giving readers a tiny glimpse into your characters' lives each time you sit down to work. The scenes will pile up, and before
you know it, you'll have a stack of pages the length of a book.

Create virtual writing caves. In your home or your yard to begin with. But also find alternate places to write where you can be anonymous, as well as away from the laundry and other interruptions. Coffee shops, cafés, the quiet room at a library are
good. Some writers take their laptops to unusual places to write: the zoo, amusement park, airport lounges, state parks...wherever
feels good to you and you can zone out. Use sound-limiting earphones if you like.

9) Only write forward, do not edit, double-think, correct or reread previous days' work . Editing and polishing come later. They are not part of your job when you're
roughing out a story. To make sure you remember what to write the next day (so that you won't reread), leave yourself a note
at the end of each session: "Tomorrow I will write the scene where Harry meets Sally."

10) Develop a personal support system to keep yourself encouraged and on track. Join
a critique group, or a writers organization......(Nairaland could serve )

www.Kathryn@writebyyou.com