by Beth Maisano

Created on: April 21, 2009

There is nothing so beautiful as taking a crude, unshaped idea and forming it into a well-developed story. Unfortunately, there is probably nothing as hideous as that same fledgling idea before it has grown its wings.

Most aspiring writers enter their first project with the knowledge of the first statement, and discover the second shortly into their endeavor. What many of them don't realize is that the problem isn't exclusive to them or their story-every writing project will have its rocky times, some more than others. Anyone can write a story, but it takes a true wielder of words to shape the story in such a way as to make it appealing to a wide audience.

So what's the best way to get past this unhappy difficulty? Well, everyone will respond differently, according to their own style and personality, but here's a few tips to help you get going-and keep going-on the novel of your dreams.

- Silence The Editor

This is undoubtedly one of the hardest parts of writing, and requires a good amount of discipline on the part of the writer. As you set out to put your thoughts on paper for the first time, sooner or later the inevitable will come to pass: looking back over what you've written, you'll realize that somehow, things didn't turn out like you wanted them too. In that moment, the Inner Editor will rear his ugly head and demand that you go back and fix it. Silence him by smashing him over the head with a baseball bat, and continue writing in peace. But on a more serious note, keeping yourself from any premature editing will greatly enhance your ability to focus on the story and keep writing. Remember, novels aren't born fully grown!

- Stay Focused

Although it's important to keep your Inner Editor securely locked away during the writing of a first draft, and perhaps even subsequent drafts, it's also necessary to keep track of where you're headed with the story. Otherwise, things can easily spiral into chaos for your poor protagonist.
Methods for staying organized will vary from writer to writer. Some will use detailed outlines of each scene and chapter; others will be more vague; still others prefer not to outline at all. Experiment and see what helps you the most. Whatever you decide, the end result should be the knowledge that you always know what's coming next. Characters can only take a story so far. Without an author to ultimately direct them, a story can lose focus.

- Get Advice

Positive feedback is one of the most encouraging aspects of writing, and you're sure to get some of it if you let friends or family read your work. But chances are, they'll have suggestions for improvement as well.
You need the negative just as much as you need the positive! Try getting your first draft on paper, and then handing it out to some test readers.
Take their advice without question-remember, they're the readers. That doesn't mean you need to adjust to their every wish, but keep in mind what they tell you. It's easy for a writer to become so intimate with their work that they can't see its most basic flaws. That's why we have friends, isn't it?

- Keep Writing

This is by far the most important a vital step to your novel's eventual completion. Don't cheat yourself into believing that it'll be easy going; it won't always be that way, and there's sure to be a time when you're set on giving up. Your novel is trash, the characters are rebels, and no one would want to read it, anyway. At this point, it may be wise to take a break and set the story aside-provided you pick it up again in a few weeks. Never give in to the negative. You have a story, and it needs to be told. No matter how slow the going, always keep writing!

Learn more about this author, Beth Maisano.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.