1. First, explore the subject you are writing about. Use the library, explore the Internet, and talk to people who have knowledge related to your subject. Take notes and jot down your ideas based on your research.
2. Develop an outline. Make certain you have the main story points you want to cover. Then add the secondary items that will increase interest in your story.
3. Designate a time and place to write. Establish a routine and stick to it. The discipline of a set schedule may help your writing the way physical exercise helps your body.
4. When you have written a first draft, have someone read it. Are her comments and suggestions helpful? If so, use them.
What guidelines do you follow when you write?
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11 comments:
I tend to follow some of the suggestions you have here. Sometimes I even put a time incentive - like writing all I can in 20 or 30 minutes, then go back at look at it. I don't always like what I have written, but at least that gives me some other ideas to branch off into. Often I do like it, so I'm that much ahead.
I love these tips. They would be great for me to cover in my composition classes for grades 6 through 9. They always seem to balk at the outline though. Even some adults I know get fidgety at the thought of writing down an outline. They feel somehow that it stifles their writing process. I find an outline very useful, because if I don't write it down, I tend to forget what I was going to write!
i usually have a very short outline for an article...three, four points, tops. something i can bold or bullet. makes for quick writing and easy reading. :)
I wanted to let you know about my blog address change. *sigh* If you're following me, my posts now won't show up in your feed, dashboard, sidebar, whatever. So please forgive me, but you'll have to change the address for my main writing blog, Where Romance Meets Therapy, to http://jeanniecampbell.blogspot.com. To do this, you have to "unfollow" me and follow me again. Sorry for the confusion!
Jeannie
The Character Therapist
These are wonderful writing tips. Mine are very similar, except for the outline part.
My main component to writing is praying a lot, reading books on craft, and reading a lot of great fiction.
And write. Write. Write.
Blessings to you!
Hi Ana, Just letting you know that I posted about Pay It Forward today! This should be fun!
And, I always love your writing tips!
@Warren
Do you go back to look at what you have written after the 20 or 30 minutes or after a few days?
One thing I have found too when I write is that even I don't necessarily like what I wrote, I get ideas off of it for other writing.
@Randi
I am glad you can use these tips for your class. I find I have difficulty doing an outline too. However, I feel it is a good practice to do it since this is where you put your ideas about what you are writing about in an organized manner.
@Jeannie
Great tip to just have 3-4 points. It does make for quicker writing and reading.
Thank you for letting me know about your new blog link, I am following it now.
@Tamika
Thank you for visiting my blog and sharing your writing guidelines. Definitely the main point is to write all the time, to put into practice what you read about the craft.
@Daveda
I am glad you liked these tips and that you particpated in "Pay It Forward." Thank you!
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