How are your writing habits?
Do you scribble on shopping lists, used envelopes and newspaper margins?
Congratulations, you've developed excellent writing habits.
Most would be writers assume that you need perfect conditions to develope as a writer.
They couldn't be more wrong. The more time you have the less likely you are to make it.
Remember, activity expands to fill the time available. Making cups of tea, checking the washing, having a walk round the garden.
All these can be justified by 'I have plenty of time. I don't need to start for another 10 minutes, half an hour or half a day.'
It's when you've only got ten minutes, that you can be at your most creative. Don't go for the long essay title or think you'll write a complete article, though you might.
Scribble down the important facts of what you want to write about.
Use bullet points, 1.2.3 format. Use whatever it takes to capture those ideas.
Then when you have half an hour, expand your notes into the format you want. An article, the bones of a book chapter, a blog entry.
There's a wonderful short story by Somerset Maugham called the Lotus Eater who goes to a small island to create the definitive novel. When a colleague visits him several years later, the would be novelist is lazy, drinks too much and hasn't written a word.
Here's to not having enough time.
Showing posts with label how to write. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how to write. Show all posts
Saturday, 19 June 2010
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
How to manage the creative process when writing a book
Met up with a client yesterday to check on her progress with writing a book.
She brought up a couple of issues one of which was time management; she's a busy mum, running her own business, house etc etc.
But the biggest issue she had was about the creative process. As a perfectionist, and we all are to some degree in that we want to get it right, she was worried about sabotaging the creative process.
I can understand her concern because many would be writers I meet do just that thing.
Stop themselves writing.
Often before they start because they're scared to start...
but more often when they start because they can't help meddling with what they've written.
Bad move. Very bad move. Why?
Because you need two completely different mindsets for writing, that is the actual getting down of the words on the page, and editing.
The problem is that many people try to combine the two. They read back what they've just written and think I can improve that.
Well probably they can and probably they should. But not at the creative stage.
It's almost like shifting down a gear when you're on a straight fast motorway. Like trying to turn right where there isn't a right turn. So you bang into a crash barrier.
And that's your creative urge squashed for that session.
It's very difficult to pick up speed again. Can be done but it takes more guile and experience than most beginner writers have.
What you should do therefore is keep going. Put your foot down, in writing terms and power on.
Forget about grammar. Forget about spelling. Forget about factual accuracy.
All those things can be fixed. At a later stage and in a different mindset.
When you write; WRITE
She brought up a couple of issues one of which was time management; she's a busy mum, running her own business, house etc etc.
But the biggest issue she had was about the creative process. As a perfectionist, and we all are to some degree in that we want to get it right, she was worried about sabotaging the creative process.
I can understand her concern because many would be writers I meet do just that thing.
Stop themselves writing.
Often before they start because they're scared to start...
but more often when they start because they can't help meddling with what they've written.
Bad move. Very bad move. Why?
Because you need two completely different mindsets for writing, that is the actual getting down of the words on the page, and editing.
The problem is that many people try to combine the two. They read back what they've just written and think I can improve that.
Well probably they can and probably they should. But not at the creative stage.
It's almost like shifting down a gear when you're on a straight fast motorway. Like trying to turn right where there isn't a right turn. So you bang into a crash barrier.
And that's your creative urge squashed for that session.
It's very difficult to pick up speed again. Can be done but it takes more guile and experience than most beginner writers have.
What you should do therefore is keep going. Put your foot down, in writing terms and power on.
Forget about grammar. Forget about spelling. Forget about factual accuracy.
All those things can be fixed. At a later stage and in a different mindset.
When you write; WRITE
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Business books: write or construct
‘If you can gain one idea or insight from a book then it’s worth reading.’
This was the statement of a multi-millionaire, writer with serial business start-ups under his belt and more fingers in more pies than most of us could imagine.
His method of speed reading was very specific and targeted on gaining the maximum benefit from his reading for the least investment of time.
Which might come as a blow to the many authors who sweated at their laptops or notebooks long hours to produce their work.
But and it’s an important but… it’s a great lesson in how to think about writing a business book.
How many business books have you read and really benefited from?
Probably not as many as you might first think. That is if you assume you have to read the whole thing cover to cover in depth. But if you have a strategy to extract the nutrition of the bone marrow from the book like a juicer, then you can turn this strategy on its head to give you the perfect guide to constructing a book.
Since I published my first book last January, gosh was it only last January, I’ve shared many conversations with fellow business people who really, really, really want to write books. But worry about starting, about keeping going and about finishing.
And what they worry about most is the writing.
So then I say, think about constructing your book.
It’s very odd the expression that unfolds across their face at that point. As if I’ve suggested they steal a toy from a child or drown a puppy.
Write a book versus construct.one
They can’t be one and the same thing can they? Writing is a venerable art practised over centuries by the most intelligent, the most academic, the most artistic of the population.
Construct on the other hand refers to, building, manufacturing and industry.
And they definitely want to be WRITERS.
Except they aren’t because they can’t get started, or… you know the rest.
The bottom line for me is this. Whatever business you run there is a book there waiting to emerge. A book that will proclaim your expert status to the world, enhance your reputation… and lead to profitable business for you.
And for me if you are in business that means you can construct a book.
Constructing a book takes away all the fear of writing because you are working from the known and understood instead of leaping off a cliff without a safety net.
Or remember Indiana Jones leaping off his cliffs – well he had stepping stones waiting for him and so will you on your leap to become a writer/constructor.
More on this in a few days.
This was the statement of a multi-millionaire, writer with serial business start-ups under his belt and more fingers in more pies than most of us could imagine.
His method of speed reading was very specific and targeted on gaining the maximum benefit from his reading for the least investment of time.
Which might come as a blow to the many authors who sweated at their laptops or notebooks long hours to produce their work.
But and it’s an important but… it’s a great lesson in how to think about writing a business book.
How many business books have you read and really benefited from?
Probably not as many as you might first think. That is if you assume you have to read the whole thing cover to cover in depth. But if you have a strategy to extract the nutrition of the bone marrow from the book like a juicer, then you can turn this strategy on its head to give you the perfect guide to constructing a book.
Since I published my first book last January, gosh was it only last January, I’ve shared many conversations with fellow business people who really, really, really want to write books. But worry about starting, about keeping going and about finishing.
And what they worry about most is the writing.
So then I say, think about constructing your book.
It’s very odd the expression that unfolds across their face at that point. As if I’ve suggested they steal a toy from a child or drown a puppy.
Write a book versus construct.one
They can’t be one and the same thing can they? Writing is a venerable art practised over centuries by the most intelligent, the most academic, the most artistic of the population.
Construct on the other hand refers to, building, manufacturing and industry.
And they definitely want to be WRITERS.
Except they aren’t because they can’t get started, or… you know the rest.
The bottom line for me is this. Whatever business you run there is a book there waiting to emerge. A book that will proclaim your expert status to the world, enhance your reputation… and lead to profitable business for you.
And for me if you are in business that means you can construct a book.
Constructing a book takes away all the fear of writing because you are working from the known and understood instead of leaping off a cliff without a safety net.
Or remember Indiana Jones leaping off his cliffs – well he had stepping stones waiting for him and so will you on your leap to become a writer/constructor.
More on this in a few days.
Wednesday, 13 January 2010
How many red shirts can you spot today
Opportunites leak out of every building crevice and from every person but most of the time we aren’t attuned to look for them.
If I asked you to look for red shirts for the next hour whether on TV or outside, then you’d find them in abundance.
So tuning yourself to spot those red shirts that are important for your writing is a major part of providing the topics you can write about.
If I asked you to look for red shirts for the next hour whether on TV or outside, then you’d find them in abundance.
So tuning yourself to spot those red shirts that are important for your writing is a major part of providing the topics you can write about.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
Writing: how to get unstuck
Are you stuck with with your writing?
Why might that be? Well if if helps you, then when I’m stuck often it’s because I’m trying to make it more complicated than it needs to be.
Prune it down, make it simpler so a child can understand it. Writing is after all about communicating and connecting.
And if you have any good ways of avoiding being stuck then I'm happy to pass them on and credit you.
Share them here.
Why might that be? Well if if helps you, then when I’m stuck often it’s because I’m trying to make it more complicated than it needs to be.
Prune it down, make it simpler so a child can understand it. Writing is after all about communicating and connecting.
And if you have any good ways of avoiding being stuck then I'm happy to pass them on and credit you.
Share them here.
Wednesday, 30 December 2009
How to write - creating the environment
The aim is to enable you to write anywhere. The more focused you are on your writing, the less the surroundings should matter. Creating the mood in your mind is far more important than creating a perfect setting. That can be the thin end of the wedge to letting yourself off the hook.
If your words fizz inside your head, the back of an envelope is as effective a writing tablet as the most beautiful journal.
If your words fizz inside your head, the back of an envelope is as effective a writing tablet as the most beautiful journal.
Monday, 7 December 2009
How to use your Christmas break to power your writing in 2010
If you're like me you're ready to take a break for Christmas. Whether you take the bare minimum or you're closing down for 2 weeks it will come as a relief after a challenging even though successful year.
So how do you make sure that you don't lose momentum with your writing over this period?
It's easy to lose focus whatever your ongoing projects but I believe with writing you can plan the holiday in as a positive time.
That's because to me there are 5 stages in any writing project.
- Research
- Writing
- Pause
- Editing
- Proofreading
It's the pause that we can use at Christmas or indeed any period you're away from your writing.
Robert Louis Stevenson talked about "my little brownies" by which he meant those unconscious promptings that happen to us. When we wake up and suddenly there's the next step in the project or the next chapter in our head just waiting to be written.
Wherever you are in your current writing project, as you move nearer your closedown, make some notes about:
- your progress (or lack of it),
- where you want your writing to go next and
- chose a couple of points you want to focus on.
Draw a diagram if that works better for you, but in some way give your unconscious some guidance on what you want to happen.
Then forget your work. Take pleasure in being with your friends and family.
If by any chance you receive nudgings during the holiday then jot them down in your notebook then they're ready for you to go back to them in the New Year.
You'll be amazed how fast your creativity will feed you results when you start writing again.
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Learning to write books
"It's none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way." -Ernest Hemingway
Friday, 2 October 2009
How to measure your progress as a writer
I'm old enough to realise that things go in cycles. Events, learning and in this case writing.
It's very easy to become discouraged by thinking your progress isn't fast enough. I've lost count of the number of times it's happened to me. Every time I set off on that journey of discovery I manage the beginner slopes easy enough.
Then comes a bit of an incline and whoa, I'm out of breath. Fortunately what happens then is that there's a plateau. Often we rail against the plateaux in our learning because we want to take another leap forward. . . immediately.
But just as we need to draw breath after a real incline, so we need to take stock in our writing progress. And we can turn to look back to assess how much we've learned that we didn't give ourselves credit for.
So if you're beating yourself up about not moving head, cut yourself some slack. My bet is you're further forward than you think.
It's very easy to become discouraged by thinking your progress isn't fast enough. I've lost count of the number of times it's happened to me. Every time I set off on that journey of discovery I manage the beginner slopes easy enough.
Then comes a bit of an incline and whoa, I'm out of breath. Fortunately what happens then is that there's a plateau. Often we rail against the plateaux in our learning because we want to take another leap forward. . . immediately.
But just as we need to draw breath after a real incline, so we need to take stock in our writing progress. And we can turn to look back to assess how much we've learned that we didn't give ourselves credit for.
So if you're beating yourself up about not moving head, cut yourself some slack. My bet is you're further forward than you think.
Monday, 7 September 2009
Terry Wogan leaves
Sad to hear about Terry Wogan leaving the BBC morning show. He's enlivened more than one morning for me in the past.
As a listener, even if you don't like his humour you can admire the style of speaking. So easy, so fluid and drawing in his listeners.
As a writer that's a style to copy. Even if you think you don't want to listen it's very easy to be pulled into to his stories and the relationships he builds up. Suddenly despite yourself you're hooked and laughing and having an opionion.
He's a great role model for broadcasters and writers. And the fact that he makes it look so easy just underlines how good he is at his job.
As a listener, even if you don't like his humour you can admire the style of speaking. So easy, so fluid and drawing in his listeners.
As a writer that's a style to copy. Even if you think you don't want to listen it's very easy to be pulled into to his stories and the relationships he builds up. Suddenly despite yourself you're hooked and laughing and having an opionion.
He's a great role model for broadcasters and writers. And the fact that he makes it look so easy just underlines how good he is at his job.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Strunk and White Elements of Style
Though written in 1918 this book offers a down to earth guide to good writing style with its emphasis on active verbs and cutting out unnecessary words.
I recommend when I teach.
I recommend when I teach.
Monday, 29 June 2009
Writing like tennis?
I was watching an interview with Martina Navratilova and she quoted Billie Jean King.
'The ball never came over the net the same twice.'
It really struck me as profound because it was one of the reasons that Billie Jean King kept up her interest and success in the game for so long.
Maintaining that degree of focus and attention to detail has to be a key differences between the champion, at anything, and the next best.
Relating it to writing I guess it has to be the passion to choose the most appropriate and focused words possible. In writing there is natural talent just as in tennis. But there's also the determination to rise above the rejection that all writers feel and invest the time and effort.
In the western world we all have the same alphabet to use. It's what we do with it that counts to inspire, set alight or comfort others.
I've just finished reading Nadine Gordimer's Get A Life. Such elegant but intense writing. You can imagine her weighing the words to produce the result she aimed for.
It's one of those books that produces questions in your mind that you can't answer in a second.
'The ball never came over the net the same twice.'
It really struck me as profound because it was one of the reasons that Billie Jean King kept up her interest and success in the game for so long.
Maintaining that degree of focus and attention to detail has to be a key differences between the champion, at anything, and the next best.
Relating it to writing I guess it has to be the passion to choose the most appropriate and focused words possible. In writing there is natural talent just as in tennis. But there's also the determination to rise above the rejection that all writers feel and invest the time and effort.
In the western world we all have the same alphabet to use. It's what we do with it that counts to inspire, set alight or comfort others.
I've just finished reading Nadine Gordimer's Get A Life. Such elegant but intense writing. You can imagine her weighing the words to produce the result she aimed for.
It's one of those books that produces questions in your mind that you can't answer in a second.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Writers' working methods
I'm always fascinated by the way other writers work and organise themselves. It gives me inspiration and also comfort when I find out famous authors have struggled like me.
Two snippets from Writer's Almanac which I keep on plugging as it's full of interesting facts and nuggets.
Hunter S Thompson typed out the whole of The Great Gatsby to learn about writing style.
Dan Brown used a dictaphone while he was out jogging to get to grips with the plot of The Da Vinci Code.
Two snippets from Writer's Almanac which I keep on plugging as it's full of interesting facts and nuggets.
Hunter S Thompson typed out the whole of The Great Gatsby to learn about writing style.
Dan Brown used a dictaphone while he was out jogging to get to grips with the plot of The Da Vinci Code.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Writing - will yours win the Oscar?
Today's guest article is from Babu Basu again
A guide to award winning writing.
And the Oscar goes to...
Time is short. People are busy. Our duty as writers is to produce work worthy of peoples’ time.
To many, writing is an unfathomable black art. It allows the world a glimpse into your soul. If people reject your writing, they are rejecting you (or so we believe). Professional writers know they can’t please all the people, all of the time, but by ‘eck, they’ll give it a try.
I’d like to thank...
Like actors, writers are prone to ego, self doubt and fear. Even the best writers are plagued by questions. “Will they like it?” “Will they understand it?” “Will they think I’ve lost my mind?”
Is your writing creation worthy of an Oscar or is right for a Raspberry?
Here are six things to consider.
Audience
Who you write for should determine tone, content and style. Assume the audience is intelligent with no specialist knowledge. Explain terminology and keep prose short and to the point. A dash of humour may work for most people and most situations.
Research
Research should be thorough and varied. Numerous sources boost your understanding, creativity and credibility.
Passion + Balance
Engaging and powerful work has passion and a clear sense of direction. However, writing needs to be balanced otherwise it deserves to be dismissed by the reader.
Humanity + Honesty
Finally, never forget humanity and candour. Honesty will grab the reader’s attention, empathy will have them coming back for more.
See you on the red carpet.
Babu
http://www.babubasu.co.uk/
A guide to award winning writing.
And the Oscar goes to...
Time is short. People are busy. Our duty as writers is to produce work worthy of peoples’ time.
To many, writing is an unfathomable black art. It allows the world a glimpse into your soul. If people reject your writing, they are rejecting you (or so we believe). Professional writers know they can’t please all the people, all of the time, but by ‘eck, they’ll give it a try.
I’d like to thank...
Like actors, writers are prone to ego, self doubt and fear. Even the best writers are plagued by questions. “Will they like it?” “Will they understand it?” “Will they think I’ve lost my mind?”
Is your writing creation worthy of an Oscar or is right for a Raspberry?
Here are six things to consider.
Audience
Who you write for should determine tone, content and style. Assume the audience is intelligent with no specialist knowledge. Explain terminology and keep prose short and to the point. A dash of humour may work for most people and most situations.
Research
Research should be thorough and varied. Numerous sources boost your understanding, creativity and credibility.
Passion + Balance
Engaging and powerful work has passion and a clear sense of direction. However, writing needs to be balanced otherwise it deserves to be dismissed by the reader.
Humanity + Honesty
Finally, never forget humanity and candour. Honesty will grab the reader’s attention, empathy will have them coming back for more.
See you on the red carpet.
Babu
http://www.babubasu.co.uk/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
