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 Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 1:55 pm
24ko's Writer's Boot Camp
Mission Alpha : Getting Serious and Eliminating Distractions
There are so many people who do not realize just how hard it is to be a writer. Especially if you're wanting to write a novel. There's a lot more to it than just sitting down and typing your story from beginning to end.
A lot of my lessons will focus on lifestyle changes and choices that will affect how you look at writing. But it's important to remember that everybody has their own way of doing things.
Find what works best for you, and do it.
arrow Getting Serious
Do you plan on getting your novel published, someday? Well you'd better buckle down and prepare for a very bumpy ride, my friends. It it NOT as easy as people think.
The very first step to completing a novel, is making the commitment to finish it. And following through with your vow to see it through until the end.
First of all, ask yourself these questions:
Why do you want to write?
Why do you feel like you have to write?
How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece?
How will you feel about yourself when you finish?
Answer all of these questions honestly. Write them down. And display the answers where you can see them every day. Put them on the door of your bedroom, your bathroom mirror, put them next to your computer. Every day, remind yourself of why writing is important to you, and why you have to take it seriously.
arrow Eliminating Distractions
How many times have you wanted to sit down and write, but didn't because your favorite show was on television? Or your best friend got tickets to that show you wanted to see? Or your boyfriend/girlfriend had some free time and you just HAD to see them?
Working to identify and avoid the things that take you away from writing, is the most important part of getting serious. Comitting yourself to the improvement of your writing is a tough thing to follow through with. It will eat up a lot of your time.
Just remember: It is a labor of love.
So sit down and think about times during the day when writing will come easiest. Is it right when you wake up? Right after breakfast? Or maybe it's before you go to bed? Pick out those times and make the effort to devote that time to writing.
And I'm not saying that you have to make yourself a prisoner during those times. So maybe your friend DID get tickets to that show you want to see? It's okay to step away once in a while, but when that show is done? Come home and write down everything that you remember about it. There are always ways to write, and there is always TIME to write.
What there is NO time for, is excuses.
Here's your next assignment:
Write down at least ten things that distract you from writing. And from that list, cross five of them out. The five you cross out will be the things you always ignore when they try to cut into your writing time.
This really is helpful. It's helped me out a LOT.
exclaim arrow DRILL TIME:
Reply to this post, and include the answers to these questions:
Why do you want to write?
Why do you feel like you have to write?
How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece?
How will you feel about yourself when you finish?
Next Mission: Bravo - Time Management and Getting Organized
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:21 am
So, I'm going to answer the Drills! whee Drills Why do you want to write? Because I want to tell stories to the world and people!Why do you feel like you have to write? Well, I just feel content and happy when I think that I could/can tell stories to people.How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece? I can finally acknowledge myself as an official writer.How will you feel about yourself when you finish? Definitely contented... Fulfilling one of your dreams will definitely make you happy forever.
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:36 pm
Why do you want to write?
I tell stories to entertain myself, perhaps other people will enjoy them as well.
Why do you feel like you have to write?
Daydreaming is easy enough, writing helps me flesh out my thoughts and turn them into something more.
How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece?
I'll be able to take myself more seriously as a writer.
How will you feel about yourself when you finish?
A sweet mixture of satisfaction and anxiety.
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:51 am
Rhetoric Mythos How will you feel about yourself when you finish?A sweet mixture of satisfaction and anxiety. Finishing can definitely be terrifying. 3nodding I'll eventually be posting a lesson on the best ways to combat your Inner Critic.
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:53 am
keichaos How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece? I can finally acknowledge myself as an official writer.If you have the guts to put your feelings and thoughts on paper, you're already an official writer. Whether your piece is completed or not. 3nodding
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:56 pm
Why do you want to write?
Because I love the idea of being able to create a story and characters that someone will love as much as I've loved other books.
Why do you feel like you have to write?
Because the more I write, the better my writing gets - practice makes perfect! In turn, I feel more confident in my abilities as an author.
How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece?
I suppose there's two possible outcomes for me:
1) If I don't get published, it won't be different at all - just a new story to work on.
2) If I do get published (and start to get royalties) I can begin to spend more time dedicated to writing and working towards that goal of running my own publishing agency.
How will you feel about yourself when you finish?
Very proud and happy that I succeeded in completing it! biggrin
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 2:22 am
24ko If you have the guts to put your feelings and thoughts on paper, you're already an official writer. Whether your piece is completed or not. 3nodding Wow, that certainly cheered me up! So, I can be the writer I dreamed of anytime? 4laugh
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Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 4:44 pm
Why do you want to write? heart to share my stories and ideas with other people. biggrin
Why do you feel like you have to write? heart
I feel like I have to write because it's what I live for. It's what keeps me up at night whating to write down ideas. biggrin
How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece? heart
My life will be wonderful I will be so happy with my self and everyone will be happy with me. biggrin
How will you feel about yourself when you finish? heart
i will be so happy with my self and be so proud. biggrin
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 4:55 am
-I want to write, mostly because I like telling stories. I like having the ability to let my imagination run wild, and spin a tale that others enjoy hearing as much as I enjoyed telling it. Also, I'm working on becoming a comic-maker, so I need to get better at writing, so I can make my own, instead of drawing for someone else.
-I feel like I have to write, mostly because I feel like I'm frantically trying to explore another world, and might forget what I saw while I was there, if that makes any sense. ^^;
-When I finally finish my piece, I'm hoping that people fall in love with my characters, because that's what I like best about stories. Other than that, I'm thinkin' I'll probably either be working from my parent's basement, or a small apartment somewhere, while I try to finish college. |D
- When I finish, I'll finally feel like I've accomplished something big, and prove that I can finish what I start.
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Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:40 am
Etched in my heart, your dim white memory... Why do you want to write?My writing tends to reflect what I'm thinking. This means that whatever I write is solely to entertain others and let some people understand me a bit more. Why do you feel like you have to write?Writing is a part of me. All the ideas I have would be pent up inside me if I didn't write. How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece?I doubt it would be different. I'd just be full of self satisfaction that I can actually do something that I set my mind to. How will you feel about yourself when you finish?As I said before, I'd be full of self satisfaction and most likely I'd have a bit more self-confidence... ...Is like ice...
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Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:53 am
Why do you want to write?
For the... writing. It's not just the story, but how the story is worded and put together. Because I want to get my story out and because of the challenge in it.
Why do you feel like you have to write?
I might just explode if I don't. There are too many things going on in life. I expend all emotion in writing, it soothes me, I can deal with other people a lot better then.
How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece?
My mother might stop bugging me, I will be really relieved and feel like I can move on.
How will you feel about yourself when you finish?
Proud, relieved, happy, incredible.
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Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:03 pm
Why do you want to write?
In order to improve and become more skilled
Why do you feel like you have to write?
I feel like I have to write because I want to create a story
How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece?
I'll have a piece I can be proud of and proved to myself I can write an acceptable piece
How will you feel about yourself when you finish?
Proud, Surprised and probably somewhat better.
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Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 4:24 pm
Why do you want to write?
-I want to write simply because I am creative and I have a passion inside of me to do so and write. It helps people understand me and where I'm coming from
Why do you feel like you have to write?
-There's nothing I'd rather do then spend hours on the computer typing and coming up with new worlds for people to surround and live in
How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece?
-I think I'd feel as if a sense of accomplishment has rushed over me and I'm no longer trapped in another never-ending cycle of stories and papers
How will you feel about yourself when you finish?
-I'd feel happier. Like I finally accomplished something and I don't simply procrastinate.
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Posted: Sat Jun 12, 2010 7:50 pm
Why do you want to write?
I want to get these stories out of my head and onto something permanent.
Why do you feel like you have to write?
Sometimes you're just moved to write. Occasionally I get the unbearable urge to start writing and not to stop. It's my calling.
How will your life be different when you finally finish your piece?
Amazing. It'll be the first I've finished. I'll be able to show it off to people =P
How will you feel about yourself when you finish?
Definitely proud of myself ^_^
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