Category Archives: Writing Tips

Lesson 65

23 Wednesday Sep 2015

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Hello, everyone. I apologize for not posting lately. Things have been pretty crazy around here.

For now, I’m back to posting. It’s Wednesday, so it’s time for another lesson. This week, we’re talking about motivation.

It can be hard to be motivated sometimes. I know I’ve been struggling a lot with that recently. I can’t quite seem to motivate myself to get stuff done like I need to. It’s a real struggle.

I had to make myself finish a draft of a manuscript, then I tried to go on to another one. Nope. That wasn’t going to happen. My brain saw to that much.

I try to make goals for myself to get motivated. Like, if I get so much done, I get to be unhealthy for a while, or if I get even more done, I get to take a nap, or little things like that. Maybe it would take more for you to get motivated, maybe it would take less. But I suggest those only because I know that’s what works for me.

Maybe you already know what gets you motivated. If so, what is it? Let me know in the comments!

Lesson 64

02 Wednesday Sep 2015

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It’s Wednesday, so it’s time for another lesson. This week, we’re looking at how to deal with being busy.

I’ve gotten busy a lot lately. I was out of town for a single day, and then everything exploded. A good explosion, mind you.

I didn’t have time to write or edit on Sunday because everything happened. I know, I’m big on making time, but I have to admit, my mind was so out of it on Sunday. After all, my author interview did take up a lot of time.

Okay, so I’m totally making excuses. I know, I know, I’m being totally hypocritical. I could have made time to write on Sunday, but I didn’t.

So, what does making excuses have to do with being busy? A lot. We all have those days when we’re like, “Well, I want to write…but I’m so busy. I don’t have time.” I’ve had multiple times when that has happened. I don’t like it, but it does happen.

The big thing is just trying to get a few minutes in. Even if you just have five minutes to squeeze in, that’s five minutes of writing. Just that can make a big difference.

Try to make time to write if you want to write. Quit making excuses. Excuses do nothing but hold you down.

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Lesson 63

26 Wednesday Aug 2015

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Before we get started today, I want to say that prompts will be making a return. I hope. I’m afraid I’ve gotten a little lazy with those. Summers are good for that. So sue me.

Anyway, it’s Wednesday, so that means it’s time for another lesson. This week, we’re talking about not tearing our manuscript apart too much before the editor takes a look at it.

I admit it, I’ve done this multiple times. My manuscript is about to go to an editor, so I freak out and look over it again. I think, “Well, maybe I can get it just a little bit better…” In reality, I probably only succeeded in making it worse.

It’s hard to do, I know. Maybe it’s harder for me because this is my first time to ever go through this, but it’s still tough. When editors have your manuscript, you know they’re going to tear your baby apart (to make it better, that is!).

I’ve had a couple editors look at my manuscript before (well, one was a free sample, and I couldn’t really afford her, so…), and they both made it better. I’m sure that the final editor that I have look at it will make it even better. I did manage to get the major wrinkles that were bothering me out, so that’s one good thing, and now I’m trying to not look at it again until the editor is ready for it, and get the other wrinkles ironed out.

Like I said, it’s tough, but maybe we should try to just take our minds off of the manuscripts for a while when the professionals are about to take care of it. Focus on something else for a while. Ready for a break? One, two, three, go.

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Lesson 62

19 Wednesday Aug 2015

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Another Wednesday, another lesson. Hopefully, I’m really back without missing a week this time.

This week, we’re talking about first drafts. I think I touched on this recently, but some people still insist on ripping apart that first draft before it’s finished (I think we all have that one friend…), and it’s really starting to grate on my nerves.

Okay, so say you want to be published. You started this one draft and you get stuck. Well, that’s okay, take a break and come back to it later. But what do some people do more often than not when they see it? They decide they can’t stand the sight of it and throw it out. Oh, that really gets to me…

Guys, don’t throw out your first draft before it’s done. You’re not supposed to like it. That’s why it’s called a first draft. That’s what editing is for.

I understand putting a manuscript on the shelf for a while. I know for a fact that sometimes, you don’t go back to it for a few years. I know I haven’t touched one in over a year. Sometimes that happens. And yes, I will probably rewrite the whole thing when I go back to it. Granted, I did only have 15 pages written, and didn’t have a lot of knowledge about writing back then…

Anyway, I’m getting off track here. Rewrite if you want. Never throw out a first draft. It’s tempting, but don’t you dare. Wait until the second draft to completely rewrite it.

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Lesson 61

05 Wednesday Aug 2015

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It’s Wednesday, and I’m finally back on a regular posting schedule, so it’s time for another lesson. This week, we’re talking about what I talked about on Monday — writing while on vacation.

It can be hard to write on vacation, and some people choose to not. I understand and respect that. But then again, there are some of us, like me, who choose to bring along their laptop and write. I don’t know about you, but I would go insane if I didn’t write the entire time.

Vacations are tiring. You get up early, you’re on the go all day, you come back to the hotel extremely tired, and you just want to go to bed. That doesn’t really leave time for writing. So what do you do? Well, if you can stand it at all, you have to force yourself to write, even if it’s the last thing you want to do. I had some nights like that while I was gone.

I understand that there are some nights when you just can’t stand it. Believe me, it’s not like I wrote every single day for the two weeks I was gone. There were some nights when I was just too wiped out and couldn’t do anything. It’s hard, but if you want to write at all, you have to make yourself some nights.

I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t go on vacation very often. I enjoy it, but I think I would barely get any work done. For now, I’m just trying to figure out how I’m going to get my laptop in my suitcase when I’m flying to Hawaii next year.

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Lesson 60

01 Wednesday Jul 2015

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It’s Wednesday, so it’s time for another lesson. This week, we’re talking about making yourself write.

I’ve talked about this before, but I feel like it’s a good reminder for everyone — namely, me. I’ve been doing…well, absolutely nothing this week. Shame on me, I know.

We all have those days when we just don’t feel like writing. I know how you feel. I’ve been there, done that. It’s not fun, and we just don’t even want to look at our manuscript. It’s been happening all week to me.

I get that sometimes we’re sick and don’t feel like doing anything, and that’s fine. Take a break from it every once in a while. But make sure you come back to it. I’ve been struggling to make myself come back from being sick a week and a half ago and write. Maybe I’ll be able to do some on Friday…I guess that’s about it

Make sure you write. Even if you don’t feel like it. It may feel forced, and it may be obvious that it’s forced. That’s what editing is for. Shocker, I know.

Like I said, I’m guilty of not doing anything this week so far, and I’m hoping I get back into it on Friday. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll actually manage to get back into it.

I guess that’s about it for this week. Stay tuned for next week!

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Lesson 59

17 Wednesday Jun 2015

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I apologize for not getting a post up on Monday. I had a History exam that I had to study all morning for, and then by the time I got done with it, I was pretty much wiped out. Yay for summer classes. Anyway…

It’s Wednesday, so it’s time to look at another lesson. This week, we’re talking about pushing through.

I know, I’m guilty about not pushing through as much as the next person. Remember that History exam I was talking about and my not being willing to do anything after it? Yeah, I didn’t exactly push through then, did I? Well, I try to most of the time.

There have been times when I just did not feel like writing at all. Not even a little bit. All I really wanted to do was avoid it. Did I? No, but I sure wanted to.

So what did I do? I pushed through. I admit, the writing at that moment doesn’t make any sense. But that’s what editing is for. And that’s a whole different problem…

I’ve been putting off editing for way too long lately. Well, of the manuscripts that I can actually edit right now. There’s one I’m saving up money for an actual editor, but that’s beside the point.

Anyway, there are two that I should be currently editing, but I’ve been putting it off, I admit. I’ll work on them today. At least, that’s the current plan.

So do you push through, or do you avoid writing and editing at all costs when you don’t feel like doing anything? I know what I do… I try to push through.

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Lesson 58

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

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Another Wednesday, another lesson that I almost didn’t get to do because today has just been…weird. Anyway, this week, we’re looking at not ripping apart your first draft before finishing it.

I touched on this way back on lesson 16… I thought we may need a little refresher.

The first draft is bad. It’s going to be beyond bad. That’s okay. Just vomit up the story (lovely image, I know), and clean it up when you’re done.

I know that’s kind of a disgusting image, but it does make sense, doesn’t it? You don’t try to clean up your vomit before you’re done, do you? That seems counterproductive.

It’s the same with the first draft of your book. You never know exactly where the plot is going to take you. I thought my first book would only have one murder, and it was going to be on Monday, hence the original name of the book, Monday Murder. It’s now called Days of the Kill. Why? Because instead of just one murder, there were seven, one on each day of the week.

So, had I tried to rip apart the first draft before I decided on all seven days of the week, I would have done a lot more harm than good to my book, and I certainly didn’t want that.

You don’t either. Don’t even try to lie to me. I know how you fellow writers are.

So, even if you want to rip apart your first draft before it’s finished, don’t. You don’t need to do that. That’s what multiple drafts are for.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to try to get this sick feeling out of my stomach that was caused by talking about vomit.

I don’t have work on Friday, so I should be getting a prompt in!

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Lesson 57

03 Wednesday Jun 2015

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Back to the regular schedule. It’s Wednesday, so time for another lesson. This week, we’re looking at saving up money.

I know, I’m at it again. But this money thing is important. I’m going backwards, instead of forward like I should be. Too much stuff to buy…

We all know how tempting sales are, don’t we? We all know good deals when we see it. You think, “I have to get that right NOW. That’s a bargain.”

Don’t lie. I do it, too.

But let’s look at the facts. Do you really need it right at this moment, even though you don’t have a lot of money? Or can you wait for a while and save up money until you have enough money for whatever else you’re saving up for, even if it’s not on sale anymore?

I’m learning to step back… Slowly, but surely.

There’s a business that I’ve mentioned before: AWAI, or American Writers & Artists Inc. It has courses to learn how to become a copywriter. They’re expensive, but they’re good.

They currently have a major sale going on for one of the courses I really want to take… Nope. Not going to do it. I can’t. Look away…

So, what does all of this have to do with writing? Well, you may be saving up money for an editor. I know I am. Save up money for that editor, or whatever part of writing you’re saving up for. Look away from the sales. 🙂

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Lesson 56

27 Wednesday May 2015

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It’s Wednesday again, so it’s time to look at another lesson. As promised, we’re talking about the positive side of spending all of that money.

The fact that a lot of money goes into writing a book can be discouraging. Sometimes, it can make you not want to write at all. I would know. Been there, done that…just a few minutes ago, actually.

I had to get myself out of the slump, and tear myself away from the show I was watching. When I turned into a binge watcher is beyond me. But that’s beside the point…

Believe it or not, there are positive sides to having to save up money for an editor, cover artist, formatter…you get the point.

The positive side is the fact that your book is going to look amazing and be amazing. Editors may be the most expensive people you come across, but the money you spend on them is so worth it.

I recently talked to an author that claims she didn’t have to go the editor route. Um…what? She’s selling overpriced (like way overpriced) unedited books to people? And she’s actually selling them? Of all the ridiculous things I’ve heard…

Anyway, I’m getting off track here.

Saving that money up can be a tedious thing, and it’s hard when a lot of expenses come your way. For me, a lot of my expenses have to do with school, and that’s not cheap, considering I’m paying for school myself. It may not be as expensive as a traditional university is, but it’s expensive enough! Really, it puts a dent in saving up money for an editor. I’m a typical broke college student, if we’re being honest here.

So, what is the positive side, exactly? You actually get an amazing product. That book is your baby. Treat it like you care. If you don’t care about the book, neither will your readers.

Look toward the ultimate goal — publishing that book. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll be a little more willing to save all you can that way.

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