Why do you want to write?
This is a major question, because it helps you to set goals. If you have a story you want to tell, then your main goal will be to tell the story as accurately and as entertainingly as possible. If you want to teach a lesson, then you want that lesson to be clear and understandable, and, possibly, as artistically conveyed as you can. Are you writing for yourself, or someone else (audience)? Understanding these things will help you set guidelines for your first (or second, or third, or infinite) writing project.
I suggest putting a brief answer to the question "Why do I want to write?" on the wall above your desk, at the top of your computer screen-- somewhere nice and visible. When you get frustrated, look back to the answer; why do you write?
Ideas
Every piece of writing starts with an idea. Whether the idea was assigned to you by a teacher, suggested by a friend, or hatched in your own beautiful mind, it's an idea. Generating an idea is never easy if you just sit and stare at a large, white expansion of digital paper on your computer screen. I don't believe in muses, but I do believe in inspiration. If you find yourself stuck for an idea, take a walk and admire some nature. Go look at or read something that you agree strongly with, like a magazine article on your favorite subjects. Find something that makes you go "I love that!" and study why you love it so much.
It's okay to copy ideas from other people. As long as you don't copy the entire piece, you are free to use the same ideas, concepts, story arch, etc., and put a you-spin on it. Go watch movies that you love, and figure out what you love about them. Go read books and stories that you love, and figure out why you love them. When you know why you love something, you can use that understanding as a basis for creating something that you love.
Keep in mind, no idea will ever be completely original. Everything is a remix of a remix. The Cinderella story has been told a million times, in a million different ways. Romeo and Juliet has been reproduced and changed a million times. Don't be afraid to take an existing idea, and make it your own. Especially for your first pieces of writing-- coming up with good ideas take practice, too!
In the Beginning
Once you have an idea of what you want to write, make a few flexible preliminary decisions about your project. Is it going to be short or long? How much time do you really have to devote to it? Now is the time to crunch some numbers, get out a calendar, and make a commitment to yourself. Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way, has you sign a contract with yourself before starting her creativity program, in order to motivate yourself to keep up with the strict guidelines of the course. You need to sit down with yourself before beginning a larger project, and be sure that you are ready to commit. Writing is different from any of the performing arts or sports-- if you mess up in writing, you are almost always obliged to go back and fix it either immediately, or later in the process. With performers, mistakes are always left in the past, and every time you perform, you have the opportunity to start afresh. As you come across all of your mistakes in your writing, and things that must be fixed and changed, it becomes difficult to face all of the missed notes, and you don't want to continue and finish. It is important to acknowledge the difficulty up front, and face it head-on. This holds true especially for larger pieces like books, so be aware of that as you start your piece.
In this series, I will include a post on actual word-count goals and writing time. It is important to plan out how much time you really have in your day to write-- and writing every day or every weekday is a good idea. The more often you write, the better and more consistent your writing will be.
When you are honestly ready to commit to a writing project, whether it's big or small, then sit down with yourself and write a contract with yourself. Post it all over Facebook. Write out punishments and rewards for yourself. Do whatever you want to get yourself motivated to start a long-term project.
In this series, I will include a post on actual word-count goals and writing time. It is important to plan out how much time you really have in your day to write-- and writing every day or every weekday is a good idea. The more often you write, the better and more consistent your writing will be.
When you are honestly ready to commit to a writing project, whether it's big or small, then sit down with yourself and write a contract with yourself. Post it all over Facebook. Write out punishments and rewards for yourself. Do whatever you want to get yourself motivated to start a long-term project.
No comments :
Post a Comment