by Bronwen Cleathero

Created on: January 03, 2007   Last Updated: May 14, 2007

For many of us the getting of an idea is the easy part putting it down on paper and filling it out is the hard part.

1) Write what you love.
Look at you bookshelf and think about your favourite writers. What makes them your favourite authors. What is it about their style of writing that grabs you and keeps you there. Think about what books of theirs you haven't loved. Why? What has been missing from the book that has made it no good for you.

2) Write what you know.
If you want to write about historical then you will need to look into the era you wish to write bout, research is all important. Even with Fantasy you will need to create new worlds new beings, names you will need to look into writers who have done this and how. These things will need to have reasons for existing behind them so that your reader will understand

3) Write something
The blank page is the worst enemy. Start typing even if it is "I have no idea what to write". Figure out on paper what you would like to write. Have you thought about hair colour. Start with something simple and work out from there.

4) Find somewhere you can write with no disturbances. Very hard to do in this world but if you can't do an hour write for 15 minutes at a time on the toilet, get up 15 minutes earlier in the morning, go to bed 15 minutes later write during lunch break. Any thing it is amazing what can be done is small steps.

5) Find out how you are comfortable writing.
For some people they need a desk with everything neatly organised, others need a pen and paper. Me I curl up on my bed with music going in the background, on my laptop early in the morning just after my hubby has left for work but before the girls wake up for their mad rush. Find out where you like to write and it will make it easier.

6) Train yourself
Whether writing for an hour at a time or 15 minutes at a time train yourself. All this means is do the same thing repeatedly. If you use the same type of pen on the same type of notepad (ideally around the same time of day if possible) day in and day out, the brain will recognise it and will be ready for work. It will be automatic for you increasing your creativity levels.

7) Have a break
You need to rest from writing. For me due to the kids the weekend works best. There are other days that won't always fit either but I work around them and don't stress. Just remember if you can write 500 words a day over a 5 day course it will take about 6 months to write a 60,000 word novel, 500 words isn't a lot. I type double spaced for easy editing later on most writing guidelines also ask this.

8) Write Forward
When you read your work after writing it it is tempting to edit it there and then. DON'T you can find yourself in the trap of editing the same section over and over again but not actually adding to the book. I don't edit at all until the end is done unless it is something glaringly obvious where have strung six words together with no spaces. I don't change anything about the plot or characters until done. Then I put the book away and leave it for a week, after the week I start editing.

9) Edit edit and edit some more
Polish it, reword it, show it to someone who will wield that red pen and make notes. Polish it again. Editors love it.

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