Be Disciplined in Writing, and You'll be Disciplined in (almost) Everything

What is the single most difficult thing I faced as a writer?

Without doubt, it was the start. So, what to do? In my case, I made extensive notes for Dark Winter, writing out, in some detail, a plot, character list, a 'world that they existed in', and  how they interacted with others in the story. What were / are their motivations? What effect was I going for? Drama, a love interest, a murder....all three?

It's a wonder any books get written at all when we consider what's involved.

Admittedly, you learn as you write, and you learn more once you've completed what you've written.

However, the notes planning was very important. So I had one file called 'Notes', the other called 'Draft One'.

I had the basics of the story in my head. But I will also say that this wasn't my first go at a full length work of fiction.

I credit that story with helping me write this one better.

I not suggesting you attempt to write two stories to achieve one good one. But it is true that the more we use our muscles, the stronger they become. In this case, our writing muscles have to be developed, and this is not as easy as it sounds.

So, how to get the discipline then? One thing I avoided was loads of websites saying 'how to do it'. Before you say 'well there's a conflict with this post then!' I am just writing this to show you what I did, and currently do. Hopefully, it will work for you. At least, I hope some elements will.

As martial arts is a big part of my life, let me explain how the discipline there, helped me, here.

I could be teaching at any time of day, literally. So writing at say, 7am through to 8am sounds great. But writing is not my main income...teaching is. So if I have a lesson then, the work goes into that. The writing project is shelved.

You want to write when you have finished in the evening, so you decide on 10pm through to say, 12 mid-night. But your other half wants you to sleep earlier, so you do that instead.

What I am saying is, writing is important, but things will always come up that you must simply give attention to. We cannot be like Jack Torrance in The Shining, who hates his wife interrupting his writing (not that he did much :).

Of course, we would like to be left alone to write our novel. Yes, the one we'll be remembered for.

Or, if I can share with you my view....the one you will be happy with.

This is not a small world, I-can't-achieve-big-things-vision.  It's more about being happy writing, whether it is non-fiction or fiction.

If you don't enjoy writing, it will become a chore, you will labour to the end, that's if you get there at all, and most likely, you will detest what you've written.

The first step, is just a small one.

Set yourself not a daily goal, or even a weekly one. Just commit to start.

Once you start, you will get it going. Yes, the road will be bumpy, even if you have done extensive notes. Even then, be guarded against those notes constraining your story. As you write, it will naturally develop.

Don't kill off a character in chapter six just because your old notes says so. Do it if it is right. Think about about it, and resolve to make the first draft workable. That is all. Because the net stage, re-drafting, is a longer, more tricky thing to do well.

I find that once I am passed 5,000 words, there is no stopping me. Soon, you will be on 10,000, and depending on the length (novella, series, epic!) you will soon have that first draft completed.

If you have to set a goal, look at it now...we are in 2013, so let's say you will have your draft done - draft One - completed, within six months. Does that sound reasonable? Let's say you don't complete it, but you have say, 80% done...isn't that better than nothing?

I can write from 500 words to around 4,500 words in a day. It doesn't mean I won't delete some, or re-edit large swathes of text as I'm going along, but it's all about getting your writing muscles stronger.

In martial arts, I have that discipline...I've just transferred it to other areas off my life.

You can do it too. Ask yourself what it is that you are most disciplined at, and how you can use that energy and focus to write.

And I will be then happy to see your book out there!

Happy writing!

My December Reading Challenge

Okay. So I would like to share with you a goal I'd actually like to achieve. I think, between teaching, writing, eating and sleeping, I can do this. Next post is regarding my Writing Challenge for December 2013.

I'm attempting to read 10 novels in the month of December. Some are novellas, so maybe it is possible.

1. Scandal of Love - Janelle Daniels

Not so much a scandal, just a lovely novella length romance....so far!

2. Letters from a Murderer - John Matthews

Recommended to me, and I love the synopsis. I think it's going to be great!

3. The Lady Always Wins - Courtney Milan

A short novella from an author recommended to me.

4. Susan Fe - Angelfall

Hearing GREAT things about this. Sounds like 'The Prophecy' starring Christopher Walken. Evil Angels? Oh yes...that's just got to be good!

5. Seduce Me at Sunrise - Lisa Kleypas

Full length historical romance from the writer of the superlative 'Mine Till Midnight'. Boy, can she write a good yarn.

6. Gothic Tales - Elizabeth Gaskell

Wow wow wow! Read this some thirty years ago in a library that has since been knocked down :( Cannot wait to re-read this.

7. Doctor Sleep - Stephen King

The master risks writing a sequel to one of my all time fave horrors. I have this book in my keep a month now. Still scared to read it in case it doesn't live up to expectations!

8. Ratcatcher - James McGee

Recommended.....looks different...think I'm going to like it.

9. The Peach Keeper - Sarah Addison Allen

Been on my TBR list simply because it has a nice cover, but also it is based in the American deep South, where I had my first foreign holiday. Looks dreamy. Think I'll love it.

10. Sherry Thomas - The Luckiest Lady in London

There is no doubt that 2013 is the year I fell back in love with romance novels. So long as they are intelligently written with a plot that moves...I'll love it. Another recommended author - so I hope it lives up to it!

What's YOUR reading goal for the final month of 2013?

Why You Cannot Give Up If Writing is your Dream

If you write, be it on paper, a computer, the back of someone's head, you are a writer. Remember that.

Oh. 'Not good enough', I hear you say. I want to be a published writer.'

Alright then. Let me tell you about Malorie Blackman. She's a British author who currently holds the position of Children's Laureate for 2013-2015.

This week, she was the featured 'castaway' on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. For those of you that don't know, DID is a show where someone is interviewed about their life, and the music that influenced them at different points in their life.

Malorie Blackman always wanted to be a writer, even when she was young. But when she was asked by her careers teacher / adviser what she wanted to be, and Malorie answered 'an English teacher', she was told, 'Oh! Black women don't do that...why not become a secretary or something?'

Malorie holds no disrespect to secretaries, but it is simply not what she wanted to do.

Her husband supported her idea of writing - hard - for one year, but around that year, she was doing jobs....one of them, in computing, of all things.

A meeting with Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, changed things, and Alice asked Malorie what she wanted to be. 'A writer', she said, 'but I get so many rejections. I suppose you should tell me don't give up'....!

And so Alice Walker, author of the very famous Color Purple book, wrote 'To Malorie, don't give up. Alice Walker'.

So because Alice Walker told her not to give up, Malorie didn't, and after some 82 rejection letters, became a published writer.

Clearly, Malorie had to overcome prejudice on her career aims (though she does admit that careers advisor - who she hated at the time, spurred her on to do better), expectations of what maybe a black woman in the UK could achieve at that time (secretary when she wanted something a bit more from life). Not only that, but racism...being told to 'go back to where-ever you come from,' even though she was born in England!

Don't give up. Especially if those around you say 'this won't work.' Keep your counsel, and do what is important to you. Make it work. You won't be able to convince everyone until JK Rowling-size cheques land on the floor in your home. Even if that doesn't happen to you, don't give up.

Don't give up. Because you don't have to go the traditional route to publish. The Writers and Artists book acknowledge the trend to 'self publish' titles. It's not vanity publishing. You write because you want to. Are You Tubers narcissists? Maybe some of them are. But some genuinely publish interesting stuff, get feedback, and are happy. Others upload every few days to feed their ego, and yes...the bank balance. Fair enough. No-one criticises them, do they?

Don't give up. Even when you look at your script and think 'who in the world would want to read this.'

I'm not feeding you hollow optimism. Writers write. It's as simple as that. It is a human desire to want feedback on it, so why not use whatever medium you need to get that feedback?

Write, enjoy the experience, and who knows, you may be the one who makes your life defined by it. Or define other's future!

Wishing all writers well. We can all learn from Malorie's determination and infectious belief. Of course, a famous author pushing you in the right way isn't a bad thing!

Malorie Blackman Website

Book Covers to Love: The One by Keira Cass

One of the reasons I bought The Selection was because of the amazing cover. (I know, that's a very very silly reason). The Elite didn't look so good, but I think it will be difficult to find a more beautiful cover than this. I just hope the story holds up. This cover is stunning.

Currently Reading: Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

I know, I know!  It seems like I've been mired in romance novels for a while, but historical romances really are something else, and worth a dime (or more) of anyone's time.

This book was hotly recommended to me by two authors I follow, and it's great to read novels in a historical context, because it's something I wish to learn and be good at.

From the GR profile...it seems an excellent read and just the kind of thing I would like:-

"When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother is easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton."

Wouldn't we love to have that problem? Anyway, my main problem is, it is nearly 1am in the morning and I am still reading this!

Book Review: The Infernal Devices ~ Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Book One. Great. Book Two. Just as good? Book Three wouldn't let me down, right?

Tessa. She seemed stronger in the earlier books. Is it a Book Three thing (read Hunger Games for this!) that it seems we have to make the main character weaker for some reason....shouldn't that be in Book One, and by Book Three she has grown from her experiences?

I admit this was a fast read and pacy novel. 500 pages flew by with ease....until the last few. Let me explain why. 

Tessa. Again. Tessa. My oh my. I got more frustrated with her as the book wore on....and I think some heroines have to show why they do (or don't do) the things they do.

I regret to say that having read the first two in this series, I was a bit disappointed by this book. 

I expected MUCH more from this book, not just from the love triangle but in general. I didn't get what I wanted. I think this book could have been a lot shorter if some of the things were cut off but that's not what I want. I wanted more....and after nearly 600 pages, I was wondering why the series ended the way it did.

Will, was a cool character and I liked his interactions with Jem and Tessa but some of the ending of the story arcs seemed a bit rushed...especially with Will. All seemed a bit forced to me.

Jem hung this together for me. A great character from the start and like an annoying younger brother type. I rated him a lot.

I know this is a lead in into the Mortal Instruments, so maybe that's where the book's story arcs will pick up. I found the win win love triangle resolution a bit 'off' for me. 

Even in fantasy, there has to be some logic, and I struggled with the whole three of them thing. 

Still. Maybe that's my closed eye view of things.

I'm...kind of numb after finishing the book. I haven't read all the MI stories but were less likely to like them, having really liked Clockwork Angel and a Clockwork Prince.

Clockwork Princess is the weakest of the three, but if you take the story as a whole, it's a super super fantasy. The story telling was so good, I can kind of forgive Cassandra Clare for where it was lacking.

Cracking trilogy, all things told. Recommended.

Book Review: The Cinderella Debutante by Elizabeth Hanbury

This has been on my 'to read' list for a while, and regency romances are a delightful way to de-stress from the trials of life.

So it was one that I put off for a while, given I had already read Miss Hanbury's A Bright Particular Star and A Midsummer Eve at Rookery End.

I can honestly say that I don't know anyone who wouldn't like these stories. Comparisons are made to Georgette Heyer, who admittedly I have not read, but I think you have to get into the writer's mind - as a reader - in order to fully appreciate things.

This tale is told with Miss Hanbury's trademark wit and style. Given that I really loved the first two books of the author, how would this stand up?

The story centres around two sisters, Lucy and Belinda. Belinda is the gorgeous one who all men fawn after, whilst Lucy, no slouch herself, appears to play second fiddle to her sister all too often. Here's where, for me, the stories are sometimes better than Jane Austen (who I adore but she introduces too many sisters on occasion). That may seem a big ask...but there's nothing wrong being compared to the great authors.

Lord Sneyd is a particular great villian, and sometimes lacking in other stories of their ilk. So it was great to see him take up a lot of the story. That is not to say it lagged when he was not around. You kind of still root for Belinda even though she clearly loves herself. It's easy to get behind Lucy and wish only the best for her, and although I kind of predicted how things might end, it did not stop me enjoying this thoroughly entertaining read.

As for the original Cinderella story, and Disney's interpretation, who didn't love that? This is an enjoyable read, especially in these wintry days. Loved it, and made me want to take off to the home counties today....except I don't have to, and you won't...read this and you'll simply be transported to another world.

I have longed to go horse riding. With this, and A Bright Particular Star as motivation, I might just do that.

Amazon - Buy the Book

Author Website