I love to write! I
love the feeling of having an idea, sitting at my computer, typing and watching
it blossom on the page. Sometimes I don’t even end up where I planned. But
there are times when I find myself caught up in the mechanics of writing. Is my
grammar perfect? Is this paragraph passive or tell? Should I write this in deep
point of view? Are my attributions bad? Do I have too many adverbs?
When I first
started out, I was a rigid outliner. I would outline the chapter, even whole
conversations. The outline was the law. I had to stick to it. Well, there was a
certain chapter—I wasn’t sure how to get
to from point a to point b. I knew how it started and where it had to end but
the details in the middle were a bit fuzzy. I decided to just sit down and
start with what I had.
A wonderful thing
happened. I wrote! I just let the words flow onto the page. It turned out to be
some of my best writing. I didn’t worry about the rules that I had been
obsessing over since I started my novel. I wasn’t held back by the details in
my outline. I entered the story, letting the characters and events unfold on
the page.
I had such a rush
at the end. It was the same rush I wanted my readers to experience. I poured my
passion onto the page and it showed in the writing. I learned that I was not an
outliner or a free writer but a mixture of both. It was the balance I needed to
free up my creativity and passion. I still outline, but loosely. Beginning, end
and how it furthers the plot are about it. I might jot down a few details or
ideas so I don’t lose them but nothing like before. I then sit and let things
happen as a free writer. I call it free writing with direction.
Here’s my advice to
new writers. Learn the rules. They will make you a better writer and in time
will develop into good habits. There is a reason we have them (we all want to be
published, don’t we?). But during your first draft don’t hold so tightly to
them. Get your ideas on paper. Make mistakes. Try new things. Some will work
and some won’t. The important thing is to have fun in the process. The business
and mechanics of the manuscript come later. That’s what editing and re-drafting
are for.
We all started
writing because we enjoy it. It’s fun to take the people and places in our
imaginations and commit them to paper for the world to see. Remember how you
felt about writing when you didn’t know what show don’t tell meant? Let your
creativity flow on the page and forget the rules for a moment.
When you write with
freedom, you write with passion—that passion is appreciated by those who read
your work. And passion can’t be taught.
I tell my four boys
all the time, “Get your work done first and you will have more time for fun.”
When it comes to writing I truly believe it is the other way around. Revel in
the creation process and make amazing characters with incredible lives. Put
them in unbelievable situations. Put them through heart wrenching tragedies and
up against impossible odds. Laugh with them, cry with them, mourn with them,
scream with them. When you have done all that, then you can set to work
applying the rules through your editing process.
Keep your passion
and love for writing so it doesn’t become just another job. Your readers will
love you for it!
~Keep writing~
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