I’ve now incorporated this into my own writing and now my book seems to be writing itself. I know it’s really tough to write when you’ve got a full-time job — plus all the usual distractions of life. Thank you so much. This freed me up to move to the end. I’ll have a think on how I could put something like that together…. FANTASTIC advice to new writers and veterans alike. Really appreciated the insights from professional writers, but I think having support (those coffeehouses and pubs) is crucial too. I only tend to revise drafts-in-progress when I need to take a piece to be workshopped by fellow writers…. I am a rookie at this and these tips are most helpful. The point is that, while anyone who’s been writing for a while has heard all your bullet points, your discussion is original and highly enlightening. This site contains affiliate links to products. I try to stop in the middle of things (though it’s often tempting to finish a scene/chapter and then decide that it’s time for a break). I think writing every day is the key because it keeps you focused on your current project and allows you to stay in the flow of the story. And thanks Mark for the referral . Not only are you tasked with sharing your worldview with others, you’re also burdened with capturing people’s email addresses and getting them to give a shit. Regarding habit #1, does anything count as writing? I write far, far more. Thanks for the sharing Cheers, Zac. For many reasons I have struggled. He should be able to abide by the deadlines and tackle 1000-2000 words daily or as required. Don’t feel guilty or bad about this: it’s something which every writer experiences, at least some of the time. And yeah, first drafts often aren’t nearly so bad as we fear. You have plans, sure. A completed draft of a novel is one of the greatest motivators I have ever experienced. Glad you like the blog – and I really appreciate you sharing it. A cut here, a transition here. I then started reading several successful YA series and found that actually for the most-part they leave out the description and let the reader come up with their own ideas about how the characters/surrounding appear. Write down observations you find interesting, something you find funny or odd, or ideas that come when walking the dog but will be lost before getting home. The thing is, we never *see* the pros struggling … we don’t see their first drafts, or their bad days, or the times when they think how easy it’d be to jack it all in. I’m printing this out and tacking it up over my desk, Kelton. Sometimes, when I am just slogging along and getting those words out it’s hard to remember that not being motivated or inspired does not mean I’m not a “real” writer. Ruth Livingstone’s last blog post ..7 Habits of Successful Writers, I definitely agree that reading is an important part of becoming a better writer. Thank you for this!!! This article is really fantastic for that. Hi Ali, I have never thought of doing habit 7. Hope your drought comes to an end soon — have been reading about your struggles, on the Connection Revolution and on Facebook. Great story, also got to chat with this guy a couple times about “grit”: I also get easily distracted -hopping from one project to the other. Where are you hoping to get to? What were some of their trade secrets? Two other things that have helped me a lot are hiring a professional writing coach and establishing a small critique group that meets monthly. Serious writers, though, know how to help themselves focus. I love my little log of my thoughts and experiences. If you’re not sure what happens next in the story, skip to the part of the story where you know what is going to happen. Good luck with that publisher! I agree that’s a good length, Nicki. We only suggest products we’ve reviewed, and in many instances also use, in order to help you make the best choices. I find that I have a LOT of free time to write but I never make it to the desk. On the other hand, I also like working on much longer, sustained pieces too. I will use all when writing my book. Studying Creative Writing with the OU taught me to develop Habit #5. Hey Thanks for these tips,… i have been in process of writing my first novel but yes I have been taking too many breaks since I am not getting the right environment as you said. Great writers aren’t born; they’re forged from toil, rejection, and the occasional success. People should have an immediate reaction to your headlines. You’ll know what’s been done before, over and over again, and what hasn’t. Dickens was a pretty serious, and prolific dude . Usefulness is what the reader takes away, not the length or the shape of the piece at its inception. Lord knows he must have been tired more often than not, but in the long run, it seems to have paid off. I write every day, but a lot of it isn’t writing toward my novel. Cheers! Thank you for the tips here. Great work! Hello, I want an efficient native writer with solid grip of English. I’ll tell you a secret. Hope you can make some serious progress with it this year. thought and sentence are always a collaboration.” – Verlyn Klinkenborg. Any hints? And he found that on all measures of success, the daily habit wins. Do I really want to be a writer? So, good days writing and bad days writing may produce equally acceptable results. Only serious writers: 3. How can I make this unique? Debating the merit of Oxford commas with non-writers*. (James Chartrand, Why You Shouldn’t Write Often, Men with Pens). The One Where the Neighbors Go “Full Trump”. Personally, I’ve been a fiction, newspaper, magazine and blog writer for 17 years now, writing for a variety of publications … and I’m still trying to improve. As in, “It wasn’t easy, but I put together some good words today.” Shit like that makes you totally sound like a writer. Start writing there. I definitely think taking more time to perfect my writing would serve me better. As an architect, I was trained in graphics analysis and composition. All writers needed professional author headshots. Vivian’s last blog post ..A Radical Restaurant Proposal. – but I know not all groups are so good. I find that if I’ve got a book to hand – on the coffee table, at the side of my bed, in my bag – then chances are, I’ll pick it up. I can really relate. Continue working on my book. Even though I’m already a published writer, I still find myself easily distracted with many things, say, my Facebook account or my Twitter. I think I’ve grown tremendously as a writer over the last couple of decades, but it has been a painful journey. Thanks a million. , It’s great to be published (and congrats!) I hope you’re stocking up on unpublished posts! Aliventures is where I help you master the art, craft and business of writing. Wow!…thanks for making this wonderful blog, it really inspires me to start writing again. You could be a word-counter, time-blocker, Pomodoro technician, or an edge-of-your-seat procrastinator … all serious scribes show up regularly to write. Generally, behaving professionally also means making attempts to get your work published – whether that’s online, on paper, paid or unpaid. I’m slightly impressed with myself, as I am a novice. One of my favorite writers is Charles Dickens, a prime example of the just show up and do it school. A pen, of course. A significant portfolio piece? Thanks a lot! Women are more photogenic than men, and need no help taking good pictures. I find the more deadlines I take on, the better my writing flow is. You don’t need to look at these questions every day, of course – just stop and take stock once a month or so. I completely agre with #2. 1. Your initial keystrokes will likely never be seen by a reader. Having deadlines, whether self-imposed or set by others does help you “do the work”. I don’t have to write the whole book in the next month! , I really appreciated this post. I wrote for years, then turned a lot of my posts into 3 books that have sold over 20,000 copies. FRUSTRATING, is not the word! Where would you like to take your writing over the next year? Many thanks to you for sharing! Thanks Audz! Then I just describe the next task (just the one) of the next chunk to be accomplished. “Writing is easy; all you do is sit staring at the blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead.” – Gene Fowler, That is a fascinating quote that I’ve heard variations of attributed to a dozen authors, and I love them all! I'm the author of Publishing E-Books For Dummies (Wiley, 2012). It resonated with me. Donna Amis Davis’s last blog post ..Boat to Small Palawan Island – Cover Ideas for My Novel, Thanks, Donna! I always go back to McKee’s Story or Save The Cat! More readable. But there’s a difference between captivating headlines and clickbait headlines. Loved the “Get Serious” at the end of each habit because it provides concrete examples of how to take action on your suggestions. Thanks for this inspiring post, Ali. Reading to good writers (e.g., Ali ), make a lot of difference. What are your goals? ), Want my blog posts straight to your inbox? The waterfall simile is apt, but even a trickling brook, or swift stream will get you there Cheers – K. Really appreciated this article today, Kelton. I have no formal education in writing but I’m hoping to pursue it in the future. Thanks Laura. These 7 habits really got me inspired. Recently, I’ve started reading “seriously,” and I can say, “It helps a lot.” Thanks Ali. I finish things – something which, at one point in my writing life, was pretty much unheard of. Thanks again for these points.. will keep these in mind, Regards Focusing isn’t just about willpower – it’s also about setting up the right working environment, and finding ways to remind yourself to stay on task. My novels undergo an absolute ton of redrafting — it’s just impossible to get it all right in one go. Please to see we have 3 out of our 7 habits in common Even if you can only write once or twice a week, that’s fine. I keep writing, and writing, and writig some more. Again, thank you for your words that worked!! When you read through it, it seems so obvious, doesn’t it? That would be helpful to your readers and subscribers and fans. I’m writing now more than ever and from what I can tell, that writing is making a difference in people’s lives – and isn’t that what writing’s all about? In the past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to work alongside all sorts of great writers, during my MA in Creative Writing, and in my freelancing. I totally agree with just getting started. Yes, some writers do fall into the trap of reading about writing … without actually writing. Thanks for the help with this student! These are terrific tips. Lately, I have had a hard time motivating a certain talented student; I’m going to print this out, change every ‘writing’ to ‘practicing,’ and hand it to that student! The problem is I have an idea but I’m having trouble writing it down with my work eating all my time and making me exhausted. . Writing is a very personal thing. ~ I will read this often in my next 21 days for sure J:o). Having a professional attitude to your writing means, essentially, taking it seriously. by Ali | Jan 28, 2011 | Writing | 94 comments. As soon as I turn off my self-editor and get to the business of writing, things seem to fall into place in a powerful way. Let’s say 500 words. Look for some which tackle your specific area of writing (e.g. Every word on the page is a huge amount of work, and you feel like crap, like you’re hammering away … it doesn’t feel good at all. Francesca Moore’s last blog post ..Chapter Two – Part 1 of 3. I absolutely agree with you about reading – we need that input in order to come up with ideas and write interesting things. Unfortunately, you won’t get any better at writing unless you actually write. . Writers need to remember that writing is a tedious and, at times, maddening endeavor. Good luck with your writing! They should be thinking, “You know, I do want to know this Shark Tank investor’s one key to investing” or “Which slice of pizza am I most like?”. What about their lifestyles? Go back to something which you drafted but never rewrote. Other writers – and associated gatekeepers, like agents and editors – will take you much more seriously. Half of being a serious writer is telling people you’re a serious writer. Thanks. The human brain doesn’t like loose ends. Bookmarking this post! Since my day-job is kinda flexi-time, I can adjust my work hours and prioritize writing after I go feed my dog. It’s a joy to discover that something that seemed mundane or even “off” can be cultivated into seismic event! I can honestly say that the more I read the better of a writer I become. I joined a writers group but found that was just not for me, there were to many wanabees and not enough writing. I found that too much description was changing the tone of the book and slowing the pace. 5. If I hit my word count at 11:00 in the morning, hallelujah. There will always be another book, another course, another anything but get down and start writing. So great to have an inside view of the minds of serious writers. We all have our varied neuroses, methods of madness, well-worn manuals, muses, writer porn, and incantations that we feel grant us the strength to face the glaring blankness of the page. Success. Thanks! I’ve got shoeboxes full , Encouraging. Think on paper. Having a weekly column really helps there. I really need to find at least 15 minutes a day to write on my novel. “What is that one thing?”, your readers will ask. I absolutely agree with completing the first draft of a novel BEFORE going back and revising it. Hope your writing went well. Be sure to include an entire list of them. “Hugh Howey (bestselling hybrid sci-fi author of Wool) … confided with me about his process: ‘Open up the document, turn off the internet, and start writing. “Writing is thinking on paper” I really love ur blog becuz i love writing too! You’re a content rockstar (as featured on the pod: https://rainmaker.fm/audio/writer/pro-content-writer-file-two/), and it’s so refreshing to remember that we all need a refresher at times Shut off that incessant noise! It’s rare that a whole sentence makes it intact into the second draft, let alone a whole scene. “I think people who have giant projects hanging over their heads, and they can’t get in the flow, they’re blocked. 2. I have always enjoyed journaling and at one point wrote for a small sports newspaper in Leesburg Florida. (; Thank you for writing such an honest post about how it feels to be stuck! I’ve read and heard a lot about practices and techniques to get writing but this is a really nice summary. I carry the same principles into writing – symmetry, asymmetry, texture, color, contrasts, and per the Elliot Porter photography credo, make all space work while leading the viewer through it. Writing “regularly” is key here. Serious writers don’t just write a piece and call it “done”. There’s one coming up on Sept 10; I think I’ll enter it. I’ve also noticed that over time, my writing skills have improved greatly due to getting lots of practice in from writing a lot. (You can also get the RSS feed, if you prefer.). You might find it helps to turn off your internet connection, or take the game DVD out of the computer – anything that makes it easier to stay focused…. I love you for sharing your knowledge!! I’ve been lucky with my writing groups – there’s always been an emphasis on actually writing! The award-winning creator, producer, and host of the megahit Lore podcast, TV show, and book series, Aaron Mahnke, came on the podcast to discuss his writing regimen and share some advice for serious writers. . Article Writing & Innehållsskrivande Projects for $30 - $250. You should definitely read work by other authors in your area: if you’re writing a thriller, read thrillers; if you’re writing a sales page, read sales pages. I also often think of a response T.C. They redraft it, often several times. When you pick up a paperback in a shop, that book has inevitably been through more than one draft by the author, and has had an editor’s attention too. tks, Cheers, Renee. One bite at a time. As a definite wannabe, someday-maybe-I’ll-do-it writer, I am so inspired to see that the things I struggle with – focus, learning, re-drafting, and the biggest of all – writing – are all issues that every writer faces, no matter what stage they are at in their journey. Thanks for the mention Ali. This book is about the resistance that all creative people face and how to overcome it. All serious writers are authentic, because being authentic means being genuine, and being genuine means being legitimate. 2. So, I have to find a way and fix my schedule and focus on writing. Pop your email address in here. You’re right. White. We all need a proverbial stick sometimes to get the work done. They often have a topic/prompt to get you going … plus a deadline! I’m not sure, however. Thanks so much Kelton! Blimey, this post is superb. As a professional musician, I have to say that much if not all of this applies to the world of practicing an instrument as well. No checking emails, making coffee, doodling on scrap paper…. Coupling your suggestions and the goal setting formula in that, I now know what goal to set and how to do so well. All serious writers know that every inspired or brilliant page is typically preceded by a dozen shitty ones. If 9/11 happened now, the headline would need to be: ‘Plane Crashes Into World Trade Center; What Happens Next Might Surprise You!’ or, ‘Flight 93 Would’ve Landed Safely If It Did This One Thing’. Eight Secrets Which Writers Won't Tell You. If you’re a freelancer (even if that’s on a very part-time basis), professionalism means sticking to agreed deadlines, communicating well with clients, setting high standards for yourself – and meeting them. A fat freelancer check? What is your carrot for getting it done? Now I think I know what it is, so I’m hoping 2011 will be the year I redraft the hell out of it – and make it feel like a proper novel, and not the first! What have you accomplished so far? Ali, this is fabulous stuff. Business Writer for a start up fashion brand (€30-250 EUR) I need to write a job agreement (₹1500-12500 INR) Writers Needed - $1 per 500 Words ($2-3 USD / hour) Content writing (₹600-1500 INR) Required article writers ($2-8 USD / hour) Writers from Kolkata fluent in English and Bengali (speaking) (₹1500-12500 INR) I will share your blog with my friends on Facebook and by email. Cheers Shaheera! One chapter left? So don’t be disappointed if your first draft doesn’t seem good enough – it’s the same for every single author. I’ve figured out I’m a morning writer, so I set aside some time every morning to get something on paper. When I spoke with New York Times bestselling author and co-founder of Wired magazine, Kevin Kelly, we talked about the importance of drafts and formulating ideas as you work: “I don’t feel like I’m a writer. For The Writer Files podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing writer and educator Bec Evans — co-founder of the digital writing coach Prolifiko — on the neuroscience of habit. With my first novel I rewrote the first thirty pages over and over and never got going until I let myself not worry about getting all the words right the first time through. Authors of all stripes share a deep connective tissue that compels them to congregate in coffee houses and taverns — across the globe — to tell one another stories of their travails over a beverage or two. And I love that quote … a great one for novelists! (Believe me, I’ve been there..! Get bored, and understand it’s part of the process. Some of your best work will come by virtue of you wrestling with the words on the page, not in your head. Finally on redrafting, I think the writer has to be sure not to allow redrafting to overwhelm the first draft. I think, yes, anything counts! And as the internet becomes more saturated with content, it’s become very hard to tell the difference. Excellent post. You’d love to call yourself a “writer”, but most weeks, you don’t really get anything written. Yep, I do all that. I think all struggling writers would find this book helpful. The most crucial thing is to be in a habit of writing — whatever form that takes. Just start writing.’, My favorite part of his journey to globetrotting literary superstar is that he would write in a broom closet during breaks between his shifts at the bookstore where he worked.”. Procrastination is a problem for most everyone, especially when the project has no joy in it. I have heard of “The War of Art” (in fact, it’s on my Amazon wishlist) — several people have recommended it to me now. I’ll track that one down now that I know the source . And you find the words to say exactly that. Meet their deadlines no matter the hardship or duress. This isn’t as simple as it sounds – it can be tough to convey something accurately, or poignantly, with nothing but black marks on a page. Focusing isn’t just about willpower – it’s also about setting up the right working environment, and finding ways to remind yourself to stay on task. If you’re going to be a writer, you need to find time to write … which is one of the biggest challenges that most of us face. There are tons of books, websites and courses that can help you become a better writer. And during free time I get distracted by other stuffs. Great stuff! I have an MFA in writing and still need to read posts like yours to get myself going. I think most writers probably feel that way…! Nice to be reminded from time to time–sometimes we lose track . You read writing magazines or blogs. Fantastic read! All serious writers know that small, incremental steps are the only path to achieving great work, and that you can’t edit a blank page. It’s made a dramatic difference. Male writers should use the following guidelines for their author headshots: You may notice there’s only a men’s section, and that’s for good reason. I have been making more of an effort lately to write out each idea, rather than allowing my inner editor to determine what is good and what is word meatloaf. Definitely agree with #1. Hoping to make a change starting tonight. “How do they reveal themselves in your thinking? Simply reading isn’t going to teach you everything that you need to know as a writer. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Glad to help! Abhi As a full-time law student I feel guilty taking time away from my studies to write fiction, but I see now that even writing for half an hour a day can be enough time to accomplish my goals. Habits and human potential author James Clear wrote an article titled “Why Getting Started is More Important Than Succeeding” where he noted: “Being the best isn’t required to be happy or fulfilled, but being in the game is necessary.”. I found your blog from a tweet and am browsing around. They also keep you writing, because you know you will need to have something new to share each month or at each session with your coach. How to Write a Post That Readers Will Love | AuthReport.com, Five Great Places to Find Your Next Blog Post Title, Five Great Places to Find Your Next Blog Post Title | AuthReport.com, How to get serious about writing - Lee S. Hawke, How to Swipe Great Titles … and Use Them On YOUR Blog | The Profit Scout Club, When to Give Up On Your Writing Project … and When to Keep Going, Nine Different Ways Writers Can Make Money by Writing, Five Straightforward Ways to Create Stronger Characters. I’ve quoted your 7 to highlight how I’m using them in my writing life. Rasoul’s last blog post ..مرحله عملیات محسوس. That sounds like a great plan, Josh. You need to think about what you’re writing, and how it works to capture reader attention. Thanks Ian! Congrats on finishing the draft of the novella! I’m Ali Luke, and I live in Leeds in the UK with my husband and two children. He also shared a book with me on the podcast by author Paul J. Silvia titled How to Write a Lot. Yes! I found that the best thing for me was to just find half an hour every day when I could write. But I can’t write fiction that often, even though that’s the kind of writing I care most about, because I don’t have enough ideas. Both really useful things to do — my writing’s always flourishing when I’ve had critique groups (and ideally tutors too) to help me along. I haven’t written anything for quite some time already… I will give it a try again tonight. Good for you! I’d love to see your edit . By giving yourself the opportunity to clarify your thinking while you write, you open yourself up to being more efficient and creative simultaneously. I’m writing a YA series and I was getting hung up on the amount of detail to be going into when describing certain things. There are different reasons for this but for me, I discovered my personality was more suited to writing short pieces than the great American novel. This turned up on a random “you may be interested in this” feed, which makes it a prime example of my motto, “wisdom is where you find it.” I’ve been writing to entertain others since 1958, without any great commercial success, when my 5th-grade teacher turned me on to the joys of that particular endeavor. Even when I’m right in front of laptop, I get distracted by my favorite computer game. Perhaps you feel that you’re not quite ready to write yet – you’re not good enough yet. Captivating is good, clickbait is not. Do You Have the Habits of a Serious Writer? Glad you found the post useful. (I like my name too … I’m “Alison” in full, but I never liked that ;-)), Best of luck with the rest of your novel draft; I think the first 10,000 words are the hardest! Welcome, Jennifer! Every serious writer I know also has a methodology that gives them a professional advantage to hit their deadlines. Plus, authenticity makes you one of the only people on the internet writing about themselves in a factual way. When I had a weekly column, and deadlines, it was anxiety, anxiety and anxiety at first. Here’s to being more serious about my writing and planning for the future! Type in your keyword and press enter to search Copyblogger.com: Whether you’re a pro content writer, fictionist, screenwriter, academic, poet, stateswoman, or bard-preneur (h/t Sonia Simone), you’ve likely experienced anxiety or elation about any number of the habits we all have in common. Productive writing comes from harnessing the power of habit, and habits come from repetition.” – Paul J. Silvia. In today’s always-on world, it’s hard to find time to sit and read a book. My trilogy of contemporary fantasy novels, Lycopolis, Oblivion and Dominion, are all available from Amazon. I stumbled upon some of these rules, though you have brought them into sharp focus. I guess the blog only gets one side of me as a writer. See Instagram for examples. Again, thanks for the inspiration =). Many thanks. Find small blocks of time to set aside for writing, and use them. You sit down at the computer. Best wishes for the next stage of your life. I’d add that finding the joy in what and why you are writing is another approach to consider, i.e., what do you get out of the work? WritersWeekly.com has a quarterly contest where you have to write a short story in 24 hours, based on a prompt they give you. I’ll Tweet to our followers – they’ll no doubt be interested in your insight and advice. Jeff’s last blog post ..Do You Have the Habits of a Serious Writer? Great quote – I’ve seen similar ones like “You can’t edit what you haven’t written.”. As my husband says: How do you eat an elephant? . Great stuff Ali!! That might mean turning off your internet connection, working in a library, or simply closing the door while you’re writing. I have plenty of very critical people who think the novel is pretty good too, just need one publisher who agrees. And yeah, it really helps me to remind myself that first drafts are SUPPOSED to be pretty bad…. It ain’t sexy. I have trouble finding the motivation to write. Thank you for your words that work! I agree with you that two important habits to becoming a writer are reading and learning, however, for many people, especially people prone to fear and perfectionism based procrastination, these can serve as a barrier to actually getting started. Great article. Jen. They’ve done it so many times it becomes second nature to them. Every writer can get better, and no writer is perfect. Priceless indeed. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. I read all of your articles and try to follow them, making a few exceptions because not all brains think alike. Maybe you’ve planned to write for two hours on a Saturday morning. Happiness at seeing a byline? 2003, then picked it up in 2005 and wrote the rest and now it is still waiting for the last chapter to be written. Passion in Writing. That means putting serious thought into your work-in-progress, particularly when it comes to the redrafting stage. Follow the guidelines carefully, and remember that agents/editors are typically swamped with unsolicited manuscripts. You don’t need to want to write — people rarely feel like doing unpleasant tasks that lack deadlines — so don’t wait until you feel like it. The fee is $5. A lot of it is because they don’t have a daily writing exercise. Hi there. I have already begun, day one, a 10 minute daily writing practice. I finally finished my first novel after I drove myself relentlessly each day to write -to get to the end. , Dear Ali. We spoke about his commitment to creating the show like clockwork and why its success doesn’t give him the luxury of procrastination: “I have to write and I don’t wait for inspiration or the right mood. Both of these things provide input into the process and help you re-write on the fly. It’s their deliberate practice, grit, persistence, commitment to growth, and inner drive that sets them apart. Serious writers, though, know how to help themselves focus. That first draft wasn’t as horrible as I’d thought. If you want people to read your blog, your headlines must grab their attention. Most people create a highlight reel of their lives on social media, but authentic people broadcast their successes and failures; the latter of which is usually a long, poorly formatted essay with lots of emojis, and a call to action at the end (again, their email list).

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