1) Give yourself a deadline for your writing project where ever you are in your writing life right now today:Finish the first draftWrite the final draftSubmitting the completed manuscript2) Mark a big red X on your deadline day and write in your concrete long-term goal. Example: by June 1st, I hold in my hands the completed first draft of my manuscript (NOTE: best if written in present tense. The mystics say time is non-linear. If that's true, it means your goal has already been accomplished and …
How Many Plot-lines Does Your Story Have?
After nearly 10 years of providing Plot Consultations to writers all over the world, I have come to appreciate the varied ways writers approach the writing process and write. Last week and this, I have had the honor of working with a writer with a unique approach.He has at least five plot lines going on (nothing unusual there):Character Emotional Development = innerDramatic Action = murder mystery = outerThematic SignificanceOrphan storyRomance I first consulted with this writer nearly a year …
Silence the Beastie Critic in You
Two plot consultations in two days with two writers struggling with the same dilemma I see more than any other and could very well be the deadliest writers' flaw of all. An overzealous critic silences the creative process in general and especially so in the first draft.2 Bits of Advice: 1) I encourage you to keep going. Do not go back and start again. Rather, pick up where you left off and write all the way through to the end. Write early in the morning before the critic has awakened -- your …
Opposite of Foreshadowing
A recent post about Foreshadowing talks how every paragraph, sentence, word in the Beginning (1/4) introduces or foreshadows the character emotional development, dramatic action, thematic significance.The opposite is also true.Anything you introduce in the Beginning (1/4), the savvy reader knows on some level is important to the overall story.Therefore, be careful about every word you use. If you use dark and ominous words in the Beginning, the reader expects the story overall will be dark and …
Your Truth is Trying to Reveal Itself to You
Listen to yourself. Write the way that feels right to you. Often comments from others are more an indication that something needs work. In our zeal to support our fellow writers, we come up with all sorts of solutions. However, what's most important is to know something isn't working and for you to come up with what is the best fit. I just don't want you to get into trying to please everyone else. Most important is your relationship to the story. The story will tell you everything you need to …
Follow Me!