My Writing Thoughts I Would Like To Share With you !!! (Z Minor)

Write every day or at least most days. You set your own schedule to how many days you will write and for how long. The most important point to remember is DO IT. I know you think you don’t have time every day because writing a story takes a considerable amount of time – 2-3 minimum hours or more per session. Not true! If all you have is fifteen (15) minutes a day, you can train your mind to cooperate after about a week of writing for the length of time you choose. And when you set down in your chair to write your creative mind just takes over and for the allotted time you write. It is amazing how much writing, plotting, or character work you can get done in a small or large amount of time if you are committed to your writing. I don’t know why it works but take it from me – it does. Give it a try, you will be surprised, and then I can tell you “I told you so.”

I can’t write all day every day. Daily chores like cooking, cleaning, laundry, my flower garden, other creative enjoyments, and my favorite - lunch with friends – take me away from my current writing projects. Yet, in reality doing other things, see above, helps my creativity. I find if I write too long, my writing doesn’t improve. So I write for a couple of hours most days, take a break. This gives me time to plot in my head while I’m doing tasks which are mindless, see above. Then when I come back to my project, my mind is refreshed, and ready to be creative. Remember to have fun!

BICHOK WARA Mantra – Butt In Chair Hands On Keyboard. Your story will not get written if you don’t work on it. The world is full of people who say – someday I will write a novel. Become one of those people who doesn’t just talk about writing a book. Just Do it!!!

Research - If you are going to write a story using researched material find enough to get started writing your story. Determine which facts are needed to enhance your plot and characters. Remember too many events become an unwanted information dump and/or a history lesson. Sprinkle the information carefully throughout your novel. Don’t forget your characters – weave them into the researched action. Once you determine what facts you will use you can always do more research if need be to give your story more detail.

You can research as you write. Be careful you don’t spend months/years researching instead of writing your story. Many successful writers use only a small percent of the material they have research for their novels.

Finish Your Novel – Believe it or not there are many people who start writing a story – be it a novel or a short story and never get beyond a few pages or chapters. In fact, many people have many books started but none finished. Don’t be one of them. Complete your novel, short story, novella, etc. I have enjoyed watching my characters come alive before my eyes even when they talk back to me or are just plain stubborn. Join a writer’s group, there are many in our area to choose from. They offer encouragement to a new writer and suggestions for improvement to seasoned writers.

Z. Minor

Author of Historical Romantic & Contemporary Suspense Novels.