Change The World In Your Free Time
How BelBoy Freeing Up Time Is Helping Creative Minds!
You’re sitting there, staring at the blank page with awe. Then the panic sets in. Where do you start? You’ve always wanted to write a book. It’s been a dream for so long, but it feels like you never have the time. It’s tempting to close the word document, get up, and say, “Another time, maybe.” Don’t give up! Writing a novel can seem daunting because it’s a complex process, but it’s also one of the most valuable, beautiful things you’ll ever do. Expressing yourself through telling a story is a personal journey, even if you’re writing fantasy that doesn’t seem remotely related to your life. You’ll learn new things about yourself and how you picture the world. It’s an endeavor well-worth undertaking and I would encourage you to do so. But how do you get started? Here are some tips to get you on your way:
- Outline or No Outline?
Every writer will give you a different answer on this one and no one answer is wrong. What I’ve found is that doing too much outlining (on your first project at least) might sink your novel. I enjoy the spontaneous nature of writing and character exploration. It’s exciting to see what each character becomes throughout the course of the book and I get bored if I have every chapter mapped out. That being said, I usually like to have three or four events that I know I want to happen along the way. Knowing where your story begins and having a general idea of how it ends is helpful. Getting the character from point A to B makes up the rest of the book. This kind of outline is simple and generally only a paragraph or two. Along the way you’ll add to it as you get to know your characters and brilliant ideas pop into your head. This kind of approach allows a large measure of flexibility. Your story will grow organically and then you can work on structure and complexity during revision. Become comfortable with your own style of outlining, whatever that may be. Try out some different approaches and find out what works best for you.
2. Speaking of Revision and Editing…
Don’t worry about either of these things until your first draft is done. Revision is a magical place where you get to feel like a surgeon, skillfully weaving together different narratives, fixing plot holes, and dropping new characters into the mix. It’s where you really start to see your story coming together in a unified way. Expect to do a lot of writing during revision. I usually end up adding a substantial amount to my word count, sometimes even doubling it. How do you start revising though? Give yourself time. Even while you are writing the first draft, you’ll be coming up with things you want to tweak or add. Make a quick note of these items, and you’ll have a kind of outline to start revision. It’s a good idea to read through your first draft and take notes on things you want to change and add along the way. You can use these as a place to start. Rinse and repeat several times. Each time your work will become a bit more polished.
3. When Should I Write?
This is up to you! Do you like structure and a predictable schedule or more spontaneity? Personally, I like working in big chunks of time so I get on a roll. Do what works for you. What I will say is that you have to write. Start typing and keep typing. It doesn’t have to be brilliant. Chances are that the first draft isn’t going to be a flawless literary classic. In fact, you may reread some of what you’ve written and laugh. That’s part of the fun. Writing is a fluid process. Find what works for you, but don’t be afraid to start. At the end of the day, you have to just start. If you didn’t make mistakes, you wouldn’t be human. The wonderful thing about writing is that you can go back and fix all your mistakes later!
You will have to figure out what works best for you but believe in yourself. Have the courage to start writing and maybe you’ll write a book that will change the way people think forever!
