What I Wish I Knew Number Five:When I started writing, I thought that if I didn't sit down and write every day, and literally force a story onto paper, the creativity would dry up and turn into a useless nothing.
WRONG!
The human brain is amazing. It holds on to things. Not only that, but it actually improves on them over time. I have found if I write new material after my brain has had time to stew over it, add to it, and mature it, the story is better than ever, like a really good, stinky, potent aged cheese.
What I Wish I Knew Number Six:
You can change anything in your writing. ANYTHING! There are no limits.
Need a window in a certain room so your character has an escape rout? Go and write it in.
Need a character to be tougher? Go throw a couple scars on him, add a mention of the street fights he's been in, and give him a black belt in martial arts. Toughen him up!
Need a new ending to your story? Delete the old one and make a new ending! Make it bigger. Better. Make it AWESOME!
Writing has no limits. It has no bars to hold you in, no rules to tap down your creativity. Don't worry about what you are writing when you write it because there's always time to change it.
Now on a side note, I am almost done writing my latest manuscript and it gives me chills--and I'm so excited I have to share this fact. The funny thing is, this manuscript has been 95% done for a long time. I've gone through and edited it twice. The thing that's undone is the ENDING! I still have to write the finale--have been putting it off for months! But guess what? The ending has come knocking. And it's gonna rock. So be patient with your writing sometimes!
As for the recipe, here's chocolate cake you can make in five minutes, one serving at a time. It's appropriately been called love in a mug. So when you need that quick sugar fix, here ya go (but add a dash of salt!). And don't say I never gave you anything!
Also, my dear, sweet Bookanista buddy, Stasia Kehoe, has a cover reveal!!! Go check it out HERE!
15 comments:
oooh, Good luck with the ending!
I'm glad I finally learned that lesson, about being able to change things and not getting attached to what I already wrote. It's freeing actually to be able to say 'I don't need this in the story' and know that my creativity will still kick in, that I'm not a 'one-line-gal'. I can keep coming up with stuff. (Funny that I used to think I couldn't...ha)
I still have to come up with a super-great ending for my story, too. The way I have it in my outline is kind of lame and needs spicing up. let us know how it all goes!
That recipe looks amazing!
Well said about writing everyday. I used to be motivated by fear; if I didn't get to the writing daily, I'd forget how or my work would never improve.
Not true. Living is writing. Reading is writing.
w00t! How wonderful that your manuscript is coming together! You're right--it IS gonna rock!
Love in a mug looks too yummy! How exciting to be almost finished. Thanks for sharing your great lessons learned.
So exciting to know the ending! That's the best feeling! :) Have fun with it.
I like your number 5. I often sit down and force myself, but it never works as good as when I'm excited about it. There's got to be a happy medium.
Really great advice! Sometimes, I think we get stuck because we tell ourselves we can't do something. But in fiction, anything goes, right?
Great cake recipe! That's pretty cool!
So true!
:)
I totally agree with your number 5. Because I work full time it's hard for me to write everyday. As long as my writing sessions aren't too far apart (usually I write on the weekends and once or twice during the week) I can easily get back into it.
Good luck with your ending!!
Hey Beth, Super advice as I have recently tackled an old manuscript of mine that I am now wondering why I never finished it. Its kinda great and weird. It goes to show that stepping away for awhile does things to the head area. By the way, that chocolate thing looks gross. Just saying. Maybe its the angle? No? Okay then.
Great tips as always! And, cake in FIVE minutes? Awesome!
Oh man. I love the point about changing anything! Sometimes I get stuck, convinced that the way I imagined it the first time is the only way. It isn't.
Thanks for this post. I've been revising a book that I've been passionate about for years but just isn't quite there. This post really encouarged me to keep working!
The cake looks fabulous.
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