I found this fascinating quote today:
- Figure out if my book will need to become two, or even three books. Oh, I still don’t know that one. I probably have to be at least to the part where Riaone is living in Higa to be able to know this.
- Write at least every other day–try for ten pages a week at first. My last two submissions were 15 and 18 pages each, at 1.5-line spacing. I am happy with that.
- Blog about my progress (even regress–then the group can help). Today’s post accomplishes this! I have been more wrapped up in capturing my ideas in type as they pop up, so I am still thinking ahead.
- Don’t stop and revise so much, so often. I have been doing well with this. When I do go back, it is to correct a fact or to reroute important dialog.
- Don’t get shy and avoid explaining my book when I’m asked about it. I am an editor for another author, and we were having a meeting recently and he asked what I am writing. I got very shy and brushed it off. After establishing these writing goals, I explained myself and sent him a synopsis. His reaction was actually very inspiring! He told me to believe in my own writing and not to let others dictate my genre/what I write.
- Decide my target audience and keep them in mind. I have decided that this will be a mature fantasy grounded as much as possible in realism. Whoever wants to read it, will!
- Read more fantasy fiction (I’m on that one already–Karen Miller’s Godspeaker trilogy). I just finished this trilogy on Saturday. It is amazing. Pretty mythical and fantastical, but with a great religious structure that keeps you thinking.
- Don’t guilt myself so hard for not getting it perfect the first time–just write my way there. I think I am doing great with this, very at peace hearing and implementing others’ critiques. I accept that I am not writing my final draft… I need my first draft FIRST!
- Decide on a new title. Not there yet.
- Create an outline–this will help move the plot and avoid fluff that doesn’t advance it. Writing the synopsis has been great. I also have a map that I created as a kid when I first conceived this novel. I am also keeping a running (day-t0-day) outline to keep me on track.
hrwritersguild.com, HR Writers Guild, Feb 2010
You should read the whole article.
