Tips and Tricks - Article/Blog

Today I want to share my excitement with you!  I got a new totally beast laser printer to replace my, still amazing but not what I needed, old inkjet printer.  … what do you mean why is that exciting?!  Fine, let me tell you. 

I write by typing not by hand, but I do edit by hand with my special red pen.  A new printer allowed me to print the latest draft of Keeper’s Conundrum in prep for another round of edits.

In honor of getting back to my beloved manuscript filled with imaginary adventures, I’d like to share some tips I’ve found when writing.  I’m also including a few tips for from another article* I found “13 Tips for Writing a Novel” by Chaker Khazaal.

1.  Remove the distractions.  Nothing is more difficult than trying to write through distractions, find a way to avoid them.  Write after the kids go to bed, before the spouse wakes up, or go to a coffee shop to work.  Don’t forget social media.  Log-out of Facebook, sign out of twitter, and if you have to… invest in an internet blocker.

2.  *Write as if your readers are beside you, listening to the story unfold. I found when I got hung up on a passage of the story it would help to step back and just explain it, simply, out loud. Imagine you are explaining to a friend how events unfolded, and write it down verbatim. This helped me get over writing "humps," and moments where my prose would get convoluted.

3.  Find your preferred method of writing. Everyone works a little differently, and I am a writer who prefers typing to handwriting, but if you work better by hand in a notebook or loose sheets of paper go for it. Find what inspires you and makes it as easy as possible to write. You shouldn't be fighting the act of writing, you have enough hurdles without that added hardship.  There are also writing apps or software like Scrivener or Penflip if those are appealing to you.

4.  *Writing can be viewed as an alternate form of meditation. Detach from your surrounding and dive into the world you are creating for yourself, and for your readers.

5.  Find something to inspire you while you write.  Find a quiet and cozy space to curl up in or the perfect music to listen to.  Make sure whatever you pick isn't too distracting though or you may end up doing more harm than good.  I really enjoy writing at my gaming pc (my keyboard is super comfy) while listening to Battlestar Galactica's sound track, but I enjoy editing with my favorite red pen on my garden porch in the sun.

“I am rooted, but I flow.” 
― Virginia Woolf

6.  Don’t try to write hungry.  Every writer needs to be fueled and not have the added stressor of a grumbling tummy. Eat before you sit down to work or have easy to eat snacks already on hand to minimize the interruptions as much as possible.  I also always have a warm cup of tea and water on hand.  Refreshing my tea also forces me to get up and walk around for a few minutes.

7.  Take a break when you need to. Writing is difficult and sometimes you’ll get stuck, when it happens, call a friend or fellow writer and talk it over.  Taking a step back from your computer or notebook to think through troubled spots can make a big difference.  On the other hand, if you’re on a roll DON’T break the flow!  An achieved state of flow is hard to obtain and when it happens taken advantage of it, remember it benefits you to keep the muses happy.

*As mentioned above, a few of these tips have been pulled from "13 Tips for Writing a Novel” by Chaker Khazaal.  I am not claiming ownership of his words, make sure to check out his full list of 13 steps for more amazing insight.

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Do you have your own tips/tricks for your creative process?
Share them in the comments below.