One of the biggest problems writers face is writing. Not editing, not censoring, not even writing well. Just writing.
Beginning writers are often told to write often and to write a lot. This is frustrating to someone who is excited about getting their ideas together in a finished book form, but it holds a lot of weight. There are a lot of writers out there, and there are a lot of want-to-be writers out there. The difference is that the writers write.
Writing isn't always as easy as it sounds. You think, "Ok, I have an idea. I'll put it on paper." Sometimes the ideas aren't so simple that they can be put into words. The important thing is to get the ideas out of your head and on to paper. You can edit poor writing, but you can't edit words that aren't written.
How can you get those words out of your head and down on paper?
1. Just write
Practice just writing for 30 or 45 minutes. Write everything and anything from your mind that is related to your story. Don't worry about the order of the words and ideas, just get them all out on paper. Once you have items on paper, you can organize them by retyping your ideas in the order you wish, or by printing out your double-spaced manuscript and cutting and pasting. But that's all editing stuff that comes later. For now, just write.
2. Talk about it
Talk out loud, or to a friend, about your story. Sometimes telling the story to someone in an interactive setting helps jog your memory about details and images. If you record it with a tape or digital voice recorder, you can get all the words out and type it later. Some people benefit from talking because it helps them process and organize their ideas.
3. Write the summary
Write the summary of the book as you might find it in a review or on your back cover. This will help you tighten up your main points to keep your story on track. You can add and change details at any time, but if your plot isn't running effectively, the details won't be enough to satisfy your reader.
Everyone can learn basic editing skills or pay someone to edit and format their work, but if it isn't written, it can't get edited or published. Whether you're a new or experienced writer, blocks can come at any time. Use these tips for getting the words out of your head and you'll always have a story to work with.
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Getting words on paper is one skill beginning writers should master. Here are some other tips for new writers.
