10. Writing a good beginning is hard.
9. When your writing is going well, time passes at warp speed.
8. When your writing is going not so well, time passes at the pace of a snoozing snail.
7. If you are writing a first draft, do not go back and read it from the beginning until you're done. If you do, your screams of frustration will be loud enough to be heard in distant galaxies and cause aliens to blink their three almond-shaped eyes in shock.
6. Favourite words crop up and become alarmingly frequent. These favourites are replaced every five pages or so by new favourites.
5. Writing a good middle is hard.
4. That quiet character who was supposed to stay in the background will at some point stand up and scream to be put centre stage.
3. Try not to swim too long in that familiar sea of self-criticism. Trust me, that sea has a nasty undertow.
2. Reward yourself for small accomplishments; reaching your word count goal, writing a nice dialogue interchange, a good paragraph. There are days when a single sentence is worthy of celebration.
1. Writing a good ending is hard.
Elspeth - Those are such important lessons!! I'm especially glad to be reminded of #3, 7 and 8. I sometimes think that sea of self-criticism slows you down more than anything else...
ReplyDeleteMargot; #3 is my Waterloo. I'm going to try harder this year.
ReplyDeleteLove these - all so very true!
ReplyDeleteBelle; Thanks! I'm glad you liked it.
ReplyDeleteAll these are great. I especially love #6.
ReplyDeleteCarol; I was horrified the first time it happened. I now accept it. I still grind my teeth, but I accept it.
ReplyDeleteNo, writing a good beginning is a piece of cake compared to the other 99 percent of the novel! Especially that middle. I have been thinking about writing a novel with a strong beginning and a thrilling ending - and leaving out that sagging middle. I suppose it´s what you call a short story :(
ReplyDeleteDorte; I've always found what I thought was a good beginning isn't really once I finish that first draft. I envy you in being able to write them!
ReplyDeleteThese are all great. I love #7 and #6 definitely applies to my writing.
ReplyDeleteI like #7 - I could see those poor disturbed aliens blinking sadly from far far away. Oh well, scream they might, but I'm going to go over the beginning a gazillion times. I just have to.
ReplyDeleteJane; I'm glad you like them and Happy New Year to you! All 10 apply to me.
ReplyDeleteJan; I don't think It's revising the beginning that causes the aliens to scream, I think it's looking back too early in the process. I've done it before and been stuck in the mire for weeks.
I can't have just one without the other nine. *sigh* :o/
ReplyDeleteMary; I hear your sighs. My sighs have morphed into hair pulling and teeth gnashing. It's not a pretty sight. HINT: Don't write with a mirror within view. Trust me on this one.
ReplyDeleteStarted a new book today and I'm firmly swimming in that sea of self doubt.
ReplyDeleteToo true. Need to find a magic crutch word detector.
ReplyDeleteTerry
Terry's Place
Romance with a Twist--of Mystery