Embracing Ugly Drafts

Has this ever happened to you?

You have an idea for a story, a book, an article, a blog post, and in your head it sounds perfect. All your ideas come to you with lightning speed. You’ve really hit on something!

Not wanting to let the idea get cold, you rush to your computer, open up a Word document and start to tap out the brilliant sentences that have been filling your brain. You write and write, only to discover that what came out on the page is awful — truly horrible — something a third grader would be ashamed of.

You ask yourself, what happened to those beautifully formed ideas and sentences and cogent, sharp arguments? Why is the writing so bad? You are sufficiently discouraged to give up writing altogether and leave writing to “the experts.” Who are you anyhow to write?

So what happened between the brilliant idea in your head and the clunky prose laying like road kill on your page? Two words: FIRST DRAFT.

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April 4, 2011 at 1:47 pm | Fiction Advice, The Writing Life, Writing Advice | No comment

5 Steps to Clutter-Free Writing

Are you a word hoarder?

Recently I’ve become hooked on reality shows such as Hoarders and Peter Walsh’s Enough Already. Now, I’m not a hoarder and though I am constantly battling clutter (aren’t all writers?) it has never reached epic proportions.

But I have a kind of morbid fascination with these shows — particularly seeing how the clutterers and hoarders cling desperately to stuff that not only do they not need, but that disastrously impacts their lives.

This got me thinking how writers often hoard their words, cluttering up their prose with verbiage that either doesn’t serve their story or message, or that actually detracts from their writing. Telling them to let go of their words is like telling a hoarder that she really doesn’t need the fondue pot “just in case.”

So how do you stop yourself from becoming the literary equivalent of a crazy cat lady? Here’s a 5-Step process to clear the clutter from your writing: (more…)

March 3, 2011 at 12:07 pm | Writing Advice | No comment

Making Time to Write

We all lead such crazy, busy lives these days it’s a wonder anyone can actually find the time to pursue his or her passion. Often what stops up the first-time author from getting published is the simple fact that he has not had time to write his book. Work for money takes up most of our lives. And then there’s the kids⎯and the pets⎯who need tending to. Bills must be paid. Groceries must be bought. Email must be checked and sent, calls must be returned. We try to squeeze in some exercise⎯shall I go on? When all the chores are done, is it any wonder we just want to rest our weary bodies and minds and watch a little TV?

So where do you actually find the time to write? Notice, the title of this blog is making time to write⎯not finding time to write. And that’s the key. You will never find the time. Time will always be elusive, and that which screams the loudest will command your attention. The key to fitting writing into your life is to make it a priority of your life. Here’s how: (more…)

October 12, 2010 at 9:08 am | Writing Advice | No comment

What Parasailing Taught Me About Writing

This summer I did something I had never done before: parasailing. If you don’t know what it is, basically you’re attached to a parachute, then tethered to a motorboat, which speeds off, hoisting you hundreds of feet in the air. Some people find the idea of this terrifying. As for me, I was intrigued. Was it scary? Nope. Not a bit! Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Later, after the exhilaration wore off, it occurred to me that parasailing could teach me a lot about writing. Here’s what I learned: (more…)

September 27, 2010 at 7:52 am | Writing Advice | No comment

5 Steps to Become Your Own Best Editor

If you’re like many writers, getting that first draft down can give you a rush of excitement. The words flow freely, the ideas come at lightning speed, the book seems to be coming together just as you had in your head. But then you read it back and — oh, boy, does it need fixing! The thought of cleaning up the “mess” you created is about as appealing as cleaning out a garage stuffed with a quarter century of accumulated stuff — and just as overwhelming. (more…)

May 12, 2010 at 3:01 pm | Writing Advice | No comment

When You’ve Hit a Wall: Five Ways to Get Unstuck

Eventually all writers — even the most experienced ones — hit a wall in their writing. Rather than staring at the computer screen with your stomach tied in knots and cursing the writing gods, do something to break the cycle. Here are five things to try to get you unblocked and writing again: (more…)

April 22, 2010 at 7:10 am | Writing Advice | No comment