Friday Five: Unwriting the Rules
A reader recently asked me what I think the key rules for writing a novel are. The main rule for me is remembering that there are no rules. Here's my Friday Five list of non-rules for helping you write a novel based on writing questions I've been asked.
1. How often should I write: Do what works for you. Try different things. If you find that writing every day means the writing flows for you, great, do that. If, on the other hand, writing every day causes you to feel drained and uninspired, take a break. Pay attention to what works for you, not for your friend or acquaintance or online writing partner, just you.
2. Should I write to market trends: Write about something that matters to you. Maybe it's the characters, maybe it's what they're going through. Just be sure you care. Cause if you don't, why would your readers?
3. Do I need to brand myself by sticking with one genre: Only if that one genre is the only one you are passionate about. Trust in the stories that want to be told.
4. What if I can't get the character's voice right: Be quiet. Stop writing. Get still. Listen. Give him/her time to show him/herself to you. If you rush ahead, you'll miss it.
5. One friend finished a draft in three months, another finished in three weeks, I've been working on mine much longer, is that bad: Not at all. Everyone works at their own pace. Give your story time to develop. Trust your own process, respect it, and it will serve you.
The only real rule I believe in about writing is this: Do it because you love it, because it matters to you, because it keeps you sane. Then, no matter what happens down the road, you know your time was well spent.
Happy writing :)
1. How often should I write: Do what works for you. Try different things. If you find that writing every day means the writing flows for you, great, do that. If, on the other hand, writing every day causes you to feel drained and uninspired, take a break. Pay attention to what works for you, not for your friend or acquaintance or online writing partner, just you.
2. Should I write to market trends: Write about something that matters to you. Maybe it's the characters, maybe it's what they're going through. Just be sure you care. Cause if you don't, why would your readers?
3. Do I need to brand myself by sticking with one genre: Only if that one genre is the only one you are passionate about. Trust in the stories that want to be told.
4. What if I can't get the character's voice right: Be quiet. Stop writing. Get still. Listen. Give him/her time to show him/herself to you. If you rush ahead, you'll miss it.
5. One friend finished a draft in three months, another finished in three weeks, I've been working on mine much longer, is that bad: Not at all. Everyone works at their own pace. Give your story time to develop. Trust your own process, respect it, and it will serve you.
The only real rule I believe in about writing is this: Do it because you love it, because it matters to you, because it keeps you sane. Then, no matter what happens down the road, you know your time was well spent.
Happy writing :)