I'm not going to mention any names. I'm sure they're fabulous writers. I don't know, I haven't read their work and don't want to. Not that I don't want to read their work, I just don't read other authors solely on the principle of their thoughts.
With that being said...
Writing is not a one size fits all.
Some authors plot out exactly what they want their characters to do and be.
Not me.
Some authors have this elaborate bio on each setting/character.
Not me.
Some authors will say the first word is the hardest.
Not me.
Some authors will say the first sentence is the hardest.
Not me.
Some authors will say the first paragraph is the hardest.
Not me.
Some authors say write what you know.
I don't.
Some authors say write what you don't know.
I don't.
What works for one, may not work for another.
Some authors say if they wrote it quickly, it's pure crap.
Umm, okay? Jealous much? How many wpm do you type? How often do you sit at the computer and put your thoughts to words? Reality is, if you don't spend the time typing, you're not going to write a story. It is true when they say, treat it like a full time job. There has been no other truer words spoken when it comes to writing.
Make your own goals. Don't listen to anyone who says, "Make yourself a list..."
Any good writer knows their characters aren't going to follow your "list". You can draw out an "idea", but a good writer lets their characters speak for themselves. A basic idea is all you need to start a story. (I said, start, not complete)
The beginning may be the hardest part for you. A friend once told me, just start writing and fill in the blanks later. With that in the back of my head, with each new idea, it makes it so much easier to write. What I'm trying to say, there are going to be problem areas for each one of you and they're going to be different. The key is locating your hurdle and getting over that.
Lets get one thing straight, yes, I brag about how fast I can produce. I can back up my words. (My editors just can't keep up with my work) As an author, I will never and I mean EVER bash an author of what they are capable of. Do they live with me? With you? No. To be judgmental, is wrong and arrogant.
An author stated, "People don't write a novel in under a month." Really? Then this poor person never met me.
Another author stated, "Those who can write, have spent over half the year outlining, so they're just filling in the blanks." Really? I can show you my "outlines". Each page in my journal has the following: series number, brief idea sentence(s), and once I get to writing the actual story, the characters names, a little about them, and locations. I also jot down any relevant information if I think it'll be needed later. I can think of an idea on Sunday and have it finished by Sunday the following week.
Another author stated, "If you write too much you lose your creativity." Huh? Really?
Again, when an author bases "their" work from what another author can do, that's shallow. This isn't a race. This isn't about who can finish first. This is about finding ourselves in what it takes us to write.
Can I produce a 100k+ word manuscript in a week or less?
Yes.
Does that mean my creativity sucks?
No.
Does that mean that I'm great I don't need an editor?
No. I will ALWAYS have an editor.
What makes me be able to produce a manuscript in a week or less? (Yes, for my longer novels it takes me a few extra days to complete)
I treat it as a full time job.
My condition allows me to stay up for days and plug away at the story. Not to mention I can type fairly fast.
The one question I get asked a lot by others, is, how are you able to write so fast?
I was never able to answer that question. Why? I couldn't find the words to express how I was able to. I just was. A teacher once said, "If you can't explain it, you don't understand it." That's true. But just because I don't understand it, doesn't mean that I can't do it. I will say this. When (I'm not on writers block), it's like I'm watching the movie of the book in my head. I'm simply writing down as much as I can, by seeing what I can in the short amount of time.
Another author said, "They're work is crap because they rushed through it".
*cough* that's why we (writers) have editors. For them to quote something without physically seeing the word, again is very arrogant. A lot of factors take place. They may not be targeting the right audience. They may not be marketing it right. They might have just thrown the book up there (after edit) and forgot about it. I don't know. I wasn't there and I don't know the author directly.
What I do agree with, (yes, I know I actually agree with something), set a goal for yourself. I don't care what the goal is. It could be producing a page in one day. It could be a word count. (Personally, those aren't and never will be my goals). But I'm not you. Set a goal for YOURSELF not anyone else. I don't care what other writers do. And neither should you!
For example. My goal is to have a novel I start, finished with a week. (again, depending on the size of the novel, it may take a few extra days). My biggest self accomplishment was 4.5 novels in one month. I tried like hell to get that .5 in. It didn't happen. But, I did accomplish the 4.5 in one month and I'm proud of myself for that. I set my personal goal for 4 books that month and I was .5 ahead.
Another hint/tip. We all get it. Writer's block. I have it right now. It sucks. I get it. And trust me, I know it gnaws away at you worse than a screaming two year with the most annoying toy that makes horrible noises. But, I see it as your mind telling you to take a break. For me, when I take that break, and just let my mind relax, instead of stressing and forcing the words out, when my mind is relax, the words flow much easier and I'm able to produce more.
I'm not going to give you any hints/tips on to relax. That's something that you have to figure out what works for you.
Even if you have had a chance to check out my work, thank you. If not, don't be like the judgmental authors. If you have and hated my work, that's fine. I know not everyone is going to like my work. But, as much as your opinion matters, it doesn't. As long as I have one person (outside of family and friends), who likes my work, then I did my job as a writer.
I don't care if you believe me or not in what I can produce. I don't write to please, I write for fun. That's what writers should be doing. A good writer writes for themselves.
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