How to Write More

How to Write More

Do you want to know how to write more…create more?  You’re not alone many writers find it hard to focus and put out the word count that they would like.  If you’re a freelance writer then your income depends on the amount that you are able to publish.  The first thing you need to recognize is that writing is a craft and you get better with practice.  At the same time the more time you take away from your writing the harder it will be to get back into the habit.  Here are some tips to turn out more content.

Make a Plan

Writing is a process whether you are writing a novel or an article for a magazine.  It usually has three components, the outline, the writing and the editing.  If you are new to writing you may think that experienced writers just sit down and crank out masterpieces but that is definitely not the case.  Nobody produces good work in a single draft, they spend time researching, taking notes, writing titles or chapter headings and figuring out a reasonable daily word count.  Eventually the process becomes routine.  Here is a look at how you can create your own writing routine.

Use a Pomodoro Timer

Sometimes getting in the grind of writing can be harder than you think, especially if you’re writing on a topic you don’t like or that doesn’t interest you.  A pomodoro timer can help keep you on track.  It allows you to work for 20 minutes and then you take a 5 minute break.  Alternate short but effective bursts of work with short breaks, 20 minutes is not a long time so it can be fairly easy to get through.

Set Reasonable Goals

Once you have a routine not it is time to create some goals.  If you are a freelance writer then set your sights on getting as many writing jobs as you can handle.  If you have a contract with a publishing company then set yourself a minimum daily word count.  Either way you have people who are waiting for you to deliver your work.

If pressure is more harm than help then you will need to develop some coping skills.  Meditation can be helpful in dealing with stress.  You need to get comfortable with the stress of deadlines and working under pressure.

At the end of the day writing is a muscle and the more you use it the stronger it will be.

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3 Tips to Help You Write Your First Novel

3 Tips to Help You Write Your First Novel

They say that everyone has at least one book inside them if only you sit down and write it.  Getting started is often the hardest part, but that doesn’t make writing a novel easy.  If you’re intimidated by the idea of writing a book you shouldn’t be.  Here are 3 tips to help you write your first novel, you may even find writing easier than you think and just a little bit therapeutic.

Start with an Idea

Every great novel was once an idea in an author’s head.  While this probably sounds pretty self-evident you would be surprised how many writers struggle with coming up with an idea for a book.  Sit down and brainstorm a few ideas, write them down and flesh out a bit of an outline.  Do you want your book based around a character or a situation?  Do you want to write fiction or do you want to write non-fiction?  All of these are questions you should ask yourself before you sit down at a keyboard.

Your Audience

Who do you want to read your book?  Do you want to write something for a very specific audience or appeal to a wider market?  Will your book stand alone or do you want it to be part of a series of books?  Are you building a series after a character a la Harry Potter?  Sometimes it can be easier to get a publishing deal if you have an outline for a series rather than just one book.

Create an Outline

Creating an outline lays out a road map for your novel.  You can make your outline as detailed or as broad as you like.  Your outline should contain an introduction that tells readers what the book is about, a conclusion that ties everything up and in between you should outline your chapters.  Outlining your book beforehand helps to prevent things like writer’s block and stops you from drifting off topic.  That doesn’t mean your outline is written in stone and you can’t make changes when you feel like it, but a good outline will help you get your book done quicker and make sure that you don’t forget or overlook any of the important details.

The task of writing a novel may seem intimidating but you can breakdown the task into smaller manageable chunks.  These 3 tips can help you to organize your thoughts and get your novel from the idea stage to a published work.

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