Wanting to write a book and writing a book are two different things. You’ll find many people who say they want to or plan to write a book someday.
In my experience, someday has never arrived. I have today and I had yesterday. If I really want to count on someday, I need to nail it down.
- On September 1, 2018, I’m going to sit at my desk and start writing my book.
That gives you time to mentally prepare, make notes, even jot down a plot line if so inclined. If you like to outline, start an outline.
When I started my first book (my first novel, Morningshine) I had in mind to write a short story for my newsletter. I had just had some major foot surgery, and I was confined to bed for a week with my foot in the air. The thought of just lying there, day after long day doing nothing or watching TV was unbearable. I didn’t have a laptop at the time, but my mom had an older one she let me borrow.
Oh my gosh, was it old and slow! My typing was faster than this computer and I had to keep waiting for it catch up – one agonizing letter at a time! But I had a story in me that was begging to be told and when would I ever have a better time?
The story grew and grew until I had several chapters. It was a case of the characters taking on a life of their own and directing the story. I just ran around after them and wrote down what they did and said. I know, that sounds completely schizophrenic, doesn’t it? I mean, the characters can’t do anything that I haven’t imagined first. It’s just that I never knew what they were going to do until they did it.
When that happens, it’s being in the zone. Ultra-focused. Unaware of the surroundings. The smoke alarm is going off but I can’t hear it. And after several paragraphs or pages – it’s gone. And I can’t wait to go there again.
Later this week, I’ll talk about those characters and how to keep track of them.
