THE WRITE ATTITUDE TO WRITING

 

 

• THERE ARE NO RULES ONLY GUIDLINES & SUGGESTIONS

 

• IF YOU GET BOGGED DOWN OR ‘BLOCKED’, MOVE ON TO ANOTHER CHAPTER OR FIND A ‘PRIMING’ MECHANISM (WRITE A LETTER, READ A BOOK, SURF THE NET)

 

• NEVER POSTPONE OR STALL THE PROGRESS OF YOUR BOOK. STAY THE COURSE

 

• WHILE PROCRASTINATION MIGHT PROMOTE CREATIVE URGENCY, ALWAYS TRY TO MEET DEADLINES

 

• BE PREPARED TO BE FLEXIBLE IN CONTENT OR STRUCTURE. NOTHING IS SET IN CONCRETE. IF SOMETHING’S NOT WORKING, REVIEW & REVISE

 

• WRITE CONVERSATIONALLY. IT IS THE EASIEST & MOST CONVENIENT WAY TO CREATE EMPATHY & INVOLVEMENT WITH YOUR READER

 

• WRITE FOR YOURSELF BUT NEVER FORGET THE READER. IS YOUR BOOK INTERESTING? IS IT INVOLVING? DOES IT MAKE ME WANT TO READ ON?

 

• USE EVERY DAY LANGUAGE & AVOID BIG WORDS UNLESS THEY HAVE RELEVANCE. YOU’RE TELLING A STORY, TELL IT THE WAY IT WOULD NORMALLY BE TOLD. PEOPLE DON’T USE PERFECT GRAMMAR WHEN THEY SPEAK. SO IT’S OK TO END A SENTENCE WITH A PREPOSITION IF IT IS RELEVANT TO THE CONTEXT

 

• RE-CREATE ACTUAL CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN CHARACTERS. IT MAKES YOUR CONTENT ‘REAL’ & BELIEVABLE

 

• NEVER BE AFRAID TO PUT YOUR HAND UP FOR HELP. YOUR MENTOR IS THERE TO GUIDE & DIRECT YOU. EVERYONE NEEDS A SOUNDING BOARD