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mbarker Original posting Dec. 26, 2018
Is it time to write yet? Well, you might want to dive into it. But James recommends that while you are writing, you build the fires of creativity? Creativity as you write? You mean I don't just put my nose to the grind stone, fingers on the keyboard, pedal to the metal, and crunch out the words? Well, James suggests you do a little bit more… Maybe one of these?
1. The Novel Journal. Do some work in your journal before you dive into the writing. Maybe start by writing something personal. Then some questions about the work in progress. Where are you on the plot, characters, what comes next, scenes? Then start writing. Maybe just five minutes, kind of stretching and a little personal brainstorming session before you settle down to the focused writing.
2. The boys in the basement (a.k.a. your subconscious, your muse, whatever). Before you go to sleep, ask yourself a question about the story. Picture that last scene you wrote, and ask yourself what comes next. Keep a notebook beside you while you sleep for great answers in your dreams. And in the morning, take a few minutes and write down anything that comes to mind. Trust the boys in the basement to come up with stuff.
3. Exercise. Tired of sitting, hunched over that pad of paper or that keyboard? Get up and do some exercises. Take a walk. Break writing into 25 minutes of writing, then either a 10 minute walk or exercise, or maybe a 10 minute lay down and do deep breathing pause.
4. Mind map! Take a sheet of paper. Write the names of the characters in bubbles around the edges. Then add events, and links tying things together. You may be surprised at what shows up.
5. Skip ahead. So you're stuck? Just mark it, and jump ahead to the next piece that you want to write. Come back later and fill it in.
So, the point is, even when you start writing, keep the mental flow going, the wells of creativity pumping out ideas.
Next, before we get to Super Structure, James takes a look at scenes. He calls them the building blocks of fiction. So we need to know how to make good bricks before we start on our building, right?
Is it time to write yet? Well, you might want to dive into it. But James recommends that while you are writing, you build the fires of creativity? Creativity as you write? You mean I don't just put my nose to the grind stone, fingers on the keyboard, pedal to the metal, and crunch out the words? Well, James suggests you do a little bit more… Maybe one of these?
1. The Novel Journal. Do some work in your journal before you dive into the writing. Maybe start by writing something personal. Then some questions about the work in progress. Where are you on the plot, characters, what comes next, scenes? Then start writing. Maybe just five minutes, kind of stretching and a little personal brainstorming session before you settle down to the focused writing.
2. The boys in the basement (a.k.a. your subconscious, your muse, whatever). Before you go to sleep, ask yourself a question about the story. Picture that last scene you wrote, and ask yourself what comes next. Keep a notebook beside you while you sleep for great answers in your dreams. And in the morning, take a few minutes and write down anything that comes to mind. Trust the boys in the basement to come up with stuff.
3. Exercise. Tired of sitting, hunched over that pad of paper or that keyboard? Get up and do some exercises. Take a walk. Break writing into 25 minutes of writing, then either a 10 minute walk or exercise, or maybe a 10 minute lay down and do deep breathing pause.
4. Mind map! Take a sheet of paper. Write the names of the characters in bubbles around the edges. Then add events, and links tying things together. You may be surprised at what shows up.
5. Skip ahead. So you're stuck? Just mark it, and jump ahead to the next piece that you want to write. Come back later and fill it in.
So, the point is, even when you start writing, keep the mental flow going, the wells of creativity pumping out ideas.
Next, before we get to Super Structure, James takes a look at scenes. He calls them the building blocks of fiction. So we need to know how to make good bricks before we start on our building, right?
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