No matter what your preferred genre of writing, you can probably relate to the excited feeling you get when you start working on something new. Whether it is a collection of poetry, the latest in your series of crime thriller novels, or a science fiction book about an alien invasion, the thrill of starting something new is always wonderful. It takes motivation and dedication, however, to maintain that feeling. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track.
1. Figure out your best process. Decide whether you write better at a particular time of day. Figure out if you work best by creating and following a plot outline, or whether you need to come up with characters first. Maybe you just want to start writing and see what comes out. When you figure out your most productive writing process, it will be easier to stay in your groove.
2. Find a mentor for your project. It is extremely helpful have the guidance of someone who has experience as a published writer, especially if they have written in the same genre in which you are working. You can benefit from your mentor's expertise and get his or her opinion on your writing.
3. Save all of your work. You will probably add and remove things as you go, cutting out certain passages and occasionally even chapters. However, it is important to not throw anything away. Just put the removed work to the side; you may decide that you want to add it in again later, or you may find that you an use it for a different writing project.
4. Step back and take a break from the project when you need to. Sometimes, it helps to not look at the project for a few days, sometimes even for a few weeks. When you do return to look at it again, you will have a fresh perspective.
5. Have more than one person read your drafts. While you should certainly show them to your mentor, you will want to consult other people as well. It is a good idea to get as many different opinions as possible, and to ask lots of people for their suggestions. This may help you to reach and speak to a larger audience of readers.
6. Decide on a strategy for publishing and marketing. Traditionally, authors have submitted query letters and sample chapters to publishers in the hopes of having their books picked up. However, self publishing has become another viable option. There are services through which you can self-publish and print your own books, as well as electronic publishing, which allows you to self-publish e-books through sites like Amazon. This can sometimes be a lucrative venture.
Try to keep up the momentum that you build at the beginning of a new project. Us that feeling to keep you motivated as the writing progresses. It is natural to lose some enthusiasm as you go, but try to take different approaches to get it back. Use all of the tips on this list. Step away from the project for a bit, or ask your mentor how he or she deals with this feeling. Just don't stop altogether.
1. Figure out your best process. Decide whether you write better at a particular time of day. Figure out if you work best by creating and following a plot outline, or whether you need to come up with characters first. Maybe you just want to start writing and see what comes out. When you figure out your most productive writing process, it will be easier to stay in your groove.
2. Find a mentor for your project. It is extremely helpful have the guidance of someone who has experience as a published writer, especially if they have written in the same genre in which you are working. You can benefit from your mentor's expertise and get his or her opinion on your writing.
3. Save all of your work. You will probably add and remove things as you go, cutting out certain passages and occasionally even chapters. However, it is important to not throw anything away. Just put the removed work to the side; you may decide that you want to add it in again later, or you may find that you an use it for a different writing project.
4. Step back and take a break from the project when you need to. Sometimes, it helps to not look at the project for a few days, sometimes even for a few weeks. When you do return to look at it again, you will have a fresh perspective.
5. Have more than one person read your drafts. While you should certainly show them to your mentor, you will want to consult other people as well. It is a good idea to get as many different opinions as possible, and to ask lots of people for their suggestions. This may help you to reach and speak to a larger audience of readers.
6. Decide on a strategy for publishing and marketing. Traditionally, authors have submitted query letters and sample chapters to publishers in the hopes of having their books picked up. However, self publishing has become another viable option. There are services through which you can self-publish and print your own books, as well as electronic publishing, which allows you to self-publish e-books through sites like Amazon. This can sometimes be a lucrative venture.
Try to keep up the momentum that you build at the beginning of a new project. Us that feeling to keep you motivated as the writing progresses. It is natural to lose some enthusiasm as you go, but try to take different approaches to get it back. Use all of the tips on this list. Step away from the project for a bit, or ask your mentor how he or she deals with this feeling. Just don't stop altogether.
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