Blogger: Rachel Kent
The beginning of the year often means the beginning of a new writing project. Starting something new is exciting, but facing a new manuscript–and that blank first page–can also be overwhelming.
Let’s spend a little time today sharing tips with each other on how to get started on a new project. What gets you excited to jump in? How do you get the first pages written when you are sitting in front of a blank document?
Whenever I’m facing a new project–editing a proposal or submitting a project to editors, for example–I like to get a fresh cup of coffee and a snack and clear my desk off first. These small pre-work preparations help me to concentrate on the project for longer and I’m able to get more done. I think the time I spend getting the coffee and clearing my desk allows for my brain to start in on the project even before I’m working on it. It’s like I’m geared up because I’ve been thinking about it for a little while.
I’d love to hear what you do to overcome the difficulty of beginning a book. And if you don’t struggle with starting a new project, why do you think that is? What words of encouragement do you have to share with those who do struggle?
Have a wonderful weekend!
What to Write Next?
Hmmm, write something new or edit the old? Which to do?
*Usually, the new calls to me — the imagination, the blank page, the possibilities! Trudging through the old, looking for repetitious words, awkward sentences, faulty transitions — that requires coffee and an inner pep talk.
*But somewhere north of 60, I started to like the old better (don’t get me wrong, new still calls to my soul). Maturity at long last? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just that editing the old is like sitting on the couch, and the new is a trip to the gym. It’s cold outside, let me wrap up in the afghan and sit by the fire.
When I have no idea how to start, even with a difficult blog pot, I’ll write a dummy beginning, starting off with…wait for it…
“It was a dark and stormy night…”
* Borrowing from the esteemed Snoopy breaks the ice, and while it’s an awkward segue into the main body I know that it’ll be excised later. Unless, of course, it really WAS a dark and stormy night.
* Does draw stares, though, me sitting on top of a doghouse, laptop precariously balanced, writing away.
I actually did publish a post that began that exact way, because it was, in fact, a dark and stormy night! Then again, at the time we are living in the far west of Ireland, and it was in the winter so it was always dark, and very nearly always stormy. 😀
I find starting easy (all 2 times I’ve tried 🙂 ), but then I spend a long time thinking about the story and my characters first. In the car, while walking, in the bath (don’t think too deeply about that one, but I get a lot of great ideas there) etc.
On my latest I started writing out some character sheets for my MC’s and drafted basic plot points for the first few chapters. By the time I sat in the coffee shop with a brand new notebook I already knew how I wanted to start it. The rest flows from there. Now its a case of don’t look back until it’s done, first draft.
So, for me, the key to starting is mental preparation. Thinking about the basics and the characters back stories. There is no rush to start writing. A few days or weeks delay doesn’t amount to much and should reap benefits down the line.
Rachel, I think I don’t have any problem starting the next novel for two reasons. First, its general concept is a continuation of my series about cultural conflicts, the power of Christian love to overcome those, and the transformation that can result as a response to that love. Second, the subsequent stories are natural developments for one or more of the secondary characters in what I’ve already written.
My encouraging words? Maybe it would be to let the secondary characters become 3-dimensional people as you work on one story, and one of them might spontaneously turn into the main character of a plot line that spins out of their complex nature in your WIP. Limiting the secondary characters to 2 dimensions steals some richness from a WIP and probably makes it harder for them to spawn that next book.
Well, I’m still in the midst of writing the first draft of my first novel. Starting that one was easy-peasy. I was so excited! Where I struggled was after it had sat dormant for years, when the calling reawakened in me that now is the time to finish it, I truly struggled to get started. I was so overwhelmed with that needed done. For me, for this project, getting a good cuppa – preferable Lyon’s Gold Blend tea, but Barry’s will do – and playing my Irish music really get me in the mindset to head back to Donegal and play with my characters.
*My idea for my second book is very nearly the opposite of my first one – and I think I’ll need some of the same things there. Something of the local “flavor” of my setting to get my creative juices flowing.
*For blog posts, I honestly just have to sit and pray, and ask God to speak through me and give me the words. I do this with my novel, too, but for blog post I definitely need His divine authority and intervention to make it something that glorifies Him.
*Then, there’s always, always coffee.
Always coffee!!!! Not that you could do this with a novel, but on articles and blogs that I get overwhelmed with what needs fixed, I often find my creativity is stifled by looking at the old stuff and I do better with just opening a new document and starting over. Maybe that would work for sections of a book?
That’s a great idea! I’ll have to try that if (when!) I get stuck again! Part of it was I realized some major changes that needed to be made, and it was discouraging. But now, for this novel anyway, God has given me a vision for where things go the rest of the way (I’m about 40,000 words away from typing “The End” on the first draft). My biggest hurdle now is time and energy.
Ooh I can’t wait to read it someday! Yes time and energy always the struggle yes??
I just started a new project this morning! A latte and a scone at a coffee shop, read a devotional first (My Utmost), and then I actually dive first into back cover copy, identifying the audience, and the hook and why of the book. That helps me find my focus and jumpstart the creativity.
Great question! Sometimes when I’m stumped, I go ahead and throw everything on the page–the whole time thinking, this is stupid. It’s not going to work. Why am I wasting my time.
Then something happens.
I recognize a thread running through my thoughts. It doesn’t mean the writing comes quickly. :/
But so many times, just gathering the courage to START gets my creativity flowing. Even if it doesn’t start out pretty.
Yes, Julie … you always have a way of ending pretty, regardless of how you start. I love your writing, your heart.
Yay for new projects from you!!!! And I love that idea. Sort of building backwards.
I’m super excited about this idea! I think it’s the project manager in me that works backwards from the desired end and then the steps needed to get there!
For a manuscript … I have to have my idea and plot all thought out … know how I’m going to start … and then, it’s so exciting to sit down to that first page. For something like a blog post … something has usually happened to stir my heart … and well, I’ll think about it for a bit, but I just have to sit down and start typing, pouring out my heart.
Oooh, new books are so fun! I keep files of ideas and once I start seeing scenes and writing them down in that file, I know I’m getting closer to being ready to write. First, I try to find 15 important plot points to pin down so that I’m not floundering for the story. I use “Save The Cat” to outline those. Then I guess at how many chapters I’m going to want (I usually have to add more chapters as I go but this gives me a good idea) I write down all the chapter headings and underneath each one I write out: Goal, Conflict, Disaster, Emotional Reaction, Review and Reason, Anticipation, Choice. I don’t fill in each of these for every chapter, but I fill in something for every chapter. One chapter might just have the emotional reaction, one chapter might have a scene a reaction and another scene, or one chapter might even be taken up with a difficult choice but having these all listed out gives me options for every chapter. I pick something to fill out and then move on to the next chapter in the outline. Once I have something down for each chapter and I’ve gotten a chance to take some walks in the woods thinking about the story, then I’m ready to write. I just look at what I’m supposed to do in that first chapter as a guide and jump in, ignoring that voice that says I’m not ready and it will be terrible and I’d be better off looking at puppy videos on facebook. I just write it, knowing it may be terrible and I might have to throw it out, but I’m going to write it anyway!
A cup of hot tea and a bit of chocolate are necessary tools any time I sit down to write. 🙂
As a picture book writer, I generally try to complete my first draft in one to two writing sessions, no matter how bad it is. With word counts of less than 1,000 and many times less than 500, it is critical to make every word count, so I give myself permission to write a cruddy first draft. Don’t be embarrassed to share your first draft with your critiquing friends. This makes the revision process so much more fun and exciting. No matter how challenging, I LOVE revision! It’s like watching a caterpillar become a butterfly.
I have many first drafts that will probably never be published, but that’s okay. If I persist, some of them might be.
So grab some chocolate, sip some tea and write that cruddy first draft. It may be your best work ever!
My writing routine begins early in the morning after my on is off to school. With a fresh cup of coffee at my side and my feline muse on my lap, I devote the morning hours to putting pen to paper, whether it be with a specific writing purpose or a total free write. So many ideas evolve from my morning routine.
My writing routine begins early in the morning after my son is off to school. With a fresh cup of coffee at my side and my feline muse on my lap, I devote the morning hours to putting pen to paper, whether it be with a specific writing purpose or a total free write. So many ideas evolve from my morning routine.