Finding Time to Write…
By Kelli A.
Wilkins
Hi everyone,
My
name is Kelli Wilkins and I’m an
eclectic writer. That means I write everything—short horror fiction, steamy full-length
romance novels, science fiction, and even non-fiction. People are always asking
me, “How can you write in so many different genres and styles?”
It’s really not that difficult. Why?
Because the basic mechanics of good storytelling are universal, no matter what
genre you write. Every fiction story contains the same ingredients: an
interesting and engaging plot, characters the reader cares about and roots for,
supporting details, and background that draw the reader into the story.
I’m
often asked: Where do you get your ideas? How do I get published? How do you
write a book? What advice do you have for writers who are just starting out? Do
you have any writing tips?
I’ve
answered these questions many times in interviews and addressed them in guest blogs,
but I always wanted to say more. One day, I started thinking about everything
I’ve learned over the years, and inspiration hit me: Why not write a book on
how to write? The result? You Can Write—Really! A Beginner’s Guide to Writing
Fiction.
This fun and practical book walks
you through the story-creating process step-by-step: from getting a great idea
to meeting your characters, developing a plot, and on to writing, revising, and
submitting your work.
Each
easy-to-read chapter is based on my years of experience as a writer, advice
I’ve received over the years, and the technical “know-how” I’ve gained in
writing classes and workshops. I also included helpful tips all writers can
use, plus writing exercises to get you motivated. Once you have the
basics down, you can write—really!
Here’s an excerpt from the book. This
chapter is all about tossing aside excuses why you can’t write and gives you
pointers on making the time to write.
I Want to
Write, But…
What’s
your excuse for not writing? No ideas? Not enough time? (This one is very
common.) Not sure where or how to start? Afraid your friends or relatives won’t
like what you write? Whatever excuses you have, it’s time to address them and
work through them—that is, if you really
want to write.
One Day,
I’ll…
Let’s
face it, the world is filled with people who like the “idea” of being a writer,
but who don’t actually write anything. These people stare off into space and
say, “One day I’ll write a book.” or “I’ll start writing when...” and they put
the whole thing on hold, waiting for “someday” when they have more time, or
when the kids are out of the house, or they’re retired, or (fill in the blank).
Most
of these people never put a word on the page despite all their good intentions.
And if they do start a project, they lose interest in it (it’s too hard, it was
taking too long). Even fewer people see a project through from idea to
published story. But they sure like to talk about it.
Do
you know the difference between a “wannabe” and a “real” writer? It’s simple—and
it has nothing to do with being published—writers write. They don’t talk about writing, they actually do it.
If you ask three writers about their projects, each one can tell you where he
or she is in the process (first draft, Chapter Four, editing) and actually show
you words on pages.
If I had a quarter for every time someone told me, “I
want to write, but…” and “Let me tell you my story idea…” I’d be a billionaire.
Seriously. Writing is hard work and it takes a lot of self-discipline. Nobody
will come to your house, plop you in a chair and make you write. Writing is
something you have to want to do. You have to motivate yourself to stick with
it through each stage of the project.
EXERCISE: If you could only write one story in your life, what
would it be? Write it down and describe it in three to five paragraphs. This is
the story that will motivate you to write.
Writing
is like anything else you do in life. Suppose you want to learn how to surf.
You won’t learn how to ride the waves by talking about it. At some point, you
have to hit the water and get wet.
Get Motivated!
Writers
must be self-motivating. Nobody will force you to write a novel. So how do you
find the time or get motivated to write? First, if you like your idea and are
excited about it, that in itself should be a motivating factor. (“I’ve got this
great idea for a ghost story and can’t wait to write it!”)
Second,
you need to schedule time to be creative. A writing schedule keeps you
accountable for your time and helps “train your brain” to get used to the idea
of writing at certain times. It may sound silly, but it works. You schedule
time for other things in life like going to work, hitting the gym, etc., so if
writing is a priority, why not schedule it, too?
Aim
to write for an hour a day. It doesn’t matter how much or what you write for
that hour, only that you put in the time. You can use the hour to brainstorm
ideas, create character profiles, make an outline, or work on a few scenes.
Of
course, it will be easier to write on some days rather than others, but push
through any initial reluctance or procrastination, and keep going. When you’re
fully engrossed in writing, time flies. You may find hours have vanished,
you’re hungry, and it’s time to use the bathroom.
On
days when you can’t write because you’re sick or it’s your birthday, don’t beat
yourself up. When important life events happen, your writing time can (temporarily)
shift on the priority schedule. Writing is a creative, mental process, and not
everyone can write on demand every day. It’s okay to take a break when you need
to, as long as you go back to your project as soon as possible. (That means
within a day or two.)
Give
yourself a mini-reward for sticking to your writing schedule: have lunch with
friends, buy new music, go to a movie, or do something that makes you feel good
about achieving a goal. As you get used to writing on a daily basis, it gets
easier. Soon, you’ll look forward to your writing time—and maybe increase the
time you’ve blocked off to work on your story.
TIP: Limit distractions. Let friends and relatives know
your writing schedule and ask them for privacy during that time. Turn off the
phone and let calls go to voicemail while you write. Find a quiet place and get
to work.
You
can make time for writing by cutting back on watching TV, playing computer
games, and trolling social media. You might be surprised at how easy it is to
replace an hour of TV reruns with an hour of writing. If you sleep until 10
a.m. every weekend, set the clock for 9, get up, and write during the “extra”
hour. Try it for a few weeks and see how it goes. Everyone on the planet gets
24 hours in every day—how you use them is up to you.
The
bottom line is… all the writing advice, tips, books, and support groups won’t
help you write anything if you’re not going to put in the time, energy, and
effort to do the work.
Only
you can write the story in your head, and if you are motivated and determined
to get it written, your excuses will fall away. Work on your writing a little
every day and before you know it, you’ll have a finished story—and that’s a
worthy accomplishment.
Are
you motivated yet? Here’s a bonus exercise!
EXERCISE: What do you want to write? Take a few
minutes and think about the types of stories you like to read. Odds are, you’ll
start writing in the same genre you read. Do you love cozy mysteries?
Hardboiled detective stories? Spicy historical romances? Do you want to start
with a short story or jump in and try a full-length novel? (If you only read
short stories because novels are “too long” to sit through, the answer should
be obvious.) Make a list of what you like to read and what you want to write.
Happy Reading (and Writing!)
Kelli A. Wilkins
You Can Write—Really! A
Beginner’s Guide to Writing Fiction
If you’ve always dreamed of writing and getting
published, but have no idea where or how to start—THIS is the book for you!
You
Can Write—Really! is an easy guide designed for beginner writers who
need a boost of motivation and simple instructions on how to get started.
Award-winning author Kelli A. Wilkins takes you
step-by-step through the writing process, covering the basics of plotting,
editing, revising, and submitting. In addition, she explores ways to get your creativity
flowing, explains where
authors get ideas, and shows you how to create interesting characters for your
story.
Helpful tips and fun writing exercises throughout the
book get you started!
Ready to
write? Order your copy here:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Write-Really-Beginners-Writing-Fiction-ebook/dp/B00THWLFQU
All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/4AqYN4
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins
is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20
romance novels, 6 non-fiction books, and 2 online writing courses. Her romances
span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror
stories.
In 2020, Kelli
published Love, Lies & Redemption, a western romance set in 1877
Nebraska. This novel blends a sensual love story with mystery and danger.
She released Romance
Every Weekend: 104 Fun Ways to Express Your Love, a non-fiction guide
to romance in 2019. The book features 104 fun and easy ways you can express
your love to that special someone in your life. Perfect for men or women, it focuses on tender,
everyday gestures that let your partner know how much you love him or her.
Kelli
published Extraterrestrial Encounters, a collection of
18 sci-fi stories, in 2019. If you like horror fiction, don’t
miss her disturbing novella, Nightmare in the North.
Kelli has authored
two online writing courses: Fiction Basics: Finding Ideas and Fiction Writing for Beginners.
These courses are perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to write. Visit: https://kelliwilkins.teachable.com/
for more
details.
Not
just an author, Kelli is also an amateur photographer. Visit her pages on Shutterstock
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/kelli+wilkins and iStock
https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/kelliwilkins to
view her photos.
Kelli posts on her
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor.
Visit her
website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com to
learn more about all of her writings.
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