Before we go on with writing habits and get into editing lets take a step back and discuss something I probably should have covered earlier.
We had pretty much decided that just starting out you should write about what you know.
What we did not fully cover was whether you were writing just for the sake of writing or if you had some commercial intentions for your work.
If you are looking to make money on your book it not only needs to be about something you know, it also has to be about something others want to know or read.
You have to consider early on who is going to read your book and then write it to that audience.
That's going to take a little research on your part to see what's selling.
Self help books are good.
Non-fiction books about a popular topic might be something for you to consider and kid's books are popular these days.
Even a memoir of some exciting period in your life might work or some poignant experience you have lived through.
I chose action/adventure fiction which is one of the hardest genres to sell, but that's what I wanted to write.
I've had a few adventures in my life so it was a natural for me.
Only you can decide what's right for you.
Back to writing habits, we have decided that you need a place where you are comfortable writing.
It should be a place where you can work un-interrupted for at least three hours.
Bring your coffee, bring your snacks, bring your smokes if you use them and plant your behind in your chair and write.
If your story is not coming, write anything, but don't stop until you have put in the time.
We're looking for discipline here and the more you practice writing the better you will get.
When you are writing your story, and this is important, don't stop to edit what you've done.
People who stop every few pages to go back and make corrections will never get a book finished.
There is no perfect.
Perfect or as close to it as you can get is what editors are for.
Okay, if you see yourself going off in a direction that you are not happy with, you might want to make some corrections, but in most cases it is best to write the book, finish it.
When that's done, throw it on a shelf or in a cabinet and forget about it for a week or two.
Okay you've relaxed for a while, now go find a quiet corner somewhere, bring your manuscript and a red pencil or pen and read your story.
A trick that I was taught is to read your story out loud.
It should sound like a story, the way people actually speak.
This first re-read is where you are going to make your major changes if any are needed.
You should go through this process until you feel that your manuscript is as good as you can make it.
Now it's time to look for an independent editor to go over your work.
We will deal with editors in the next article.
One last thing, most writers are avid readers.
If you want to write and you have not been a reader in the past, start today.
It can only help you to be a better writer.
I have always been a reader.
During the year or so it took me to write my novel Palawan I read eighty-two books.
We had pretty much decided that just starting out you should write about what you know.
What we did not fully cover was whether you were writing just for the sake of writing or if you had some commercial intentions for your work.
If you are looking to make money on your book it not only needs to be about something you know, it also has to be about something others want to know or read.
You have to consider early on who is going to read your book and then write it to that audience.
That's going to take a little research on your part to see what's selling.
Self help books are good.
Non-fiction books about a popular topic might be something for you to consider and kid's books are popular these days.
Even a memoir of some exciting period in your life might work or some poignant experience you have lived through.
I chose action/adventure fiction which is one of the hardest genres to sell, but that's what I wanted to write.
I've had a few adventures in my life so it was a natural for me.
Only you can decide what's right for you.
Back to writing habits, we have decided that you need a place where you are comfortable writing.
It should be a place where you can work un-interrupted for at least three hours.
Bring your coffee, bring your snacks, bring your smokes if you use them and plant your behind in your chair and write.
If your story is not coming, write anything, but don't stop until you have put in the time.
We're looking for discipline here and the more you practice writing the better you will get.
When you are writing your story, and this is important, don't stop to edit what you've done.
People who stop every few pages to go back and make corrections will never get a book finished.
There is no perfect.
Perfect or as close to it as you can get is what editors are for.
Okay, if you see yourself going off in a direction that you are not happy with, you might want to make some corrections, but in most cases it is best to write the book, finish it.
When that's done, throw it on a shelf or in a cabinet and forget about it for a week or two.
Okay you've relaxed for a while, now go find a quiet corner somewhere, bring your manuscript and a red pencil or pen and read your story.
A trick that I was taught is to read your story out loud.
It should sound like a story, the way people actually speak.
This first re-read is where you are going to make your major changes if any are needed.
You should go through this process until you feel that your manuscript is as good as you can make it.
Now it's time to look for an independent editor to go over your work.
We will deal with editors in the next article.
One last thing, most writers are avid readers.
If you want to write and you have not been a reader in the past, start today.
It can only help you to be a better writer.
I have always been a reader.
During the year or so it took me to write my novel Palawan I read eighty-two books.
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