Hi Writers!!!
Can you believe one week has happened and is behind us already?
Confessions...I missed one day of touching my story but I did
make up more than an hour another day. I suppose that counts, but
I was not happy with missing a day. We have to create a habit that comes naturally
and is part of each day...each and every day.
But Kudos to you if you did get back to your story and reaquaint yourself or if you did get
to the plotting and mapping out of this story you are writing. If your week didn't go well with
writing or planning then you know what? That's OK. Give yourself a break but get right back
to it and make up for lost time. You want to finish the book right?
So think about this coming week...it is now time to write. You should have a better idea about
your story now. Last week a good start on your outline was the goal but as your write you
add things to it. You may continue to add to it each week as you discover what your characters
have in mind. I often use a storyboard to map out the order of the scenes I write, but I hardly
ever write in order. But some of you may find writing in order easier to begin with. While I say I
am a panster, I often do have a general outline of what I am pulling together. It just helps to
keep a bit of focus. You'll have to find what works for you.
Take a look at your general outline or idea. Make sure that you know things about the hero
and heroine and that you think about thier character arcs as well as the story arc. You need
to know your characters internal and external growth throughout the story. A good book for
this is Deb Dixon's Goal, Motivation and Conflict.
Who is your hero/heroine?
What do they want?
Why do they want it?
What is standing in the way?
You need to know these things in order to pull a story together. So for now see if you
can answer the questions above. If any of you have a craft book that has been a big help
mention it!
I plan to add links and covers of the craft books I have utlized all through out this writing journey.
Also, don't forget to see what we are chatting about on my
facebook Author Kim Turner page, or you can chat here in the comments. If you cannot
find that page message me and I can send a link. It was at the bottom of last weeks post.
So for week 2:
1) Continue outline work and planning of ideas on your story.
Keep that notebook page handy so you can utlize it througout the entire time
you are working on the story.
2) Begin your opening chapter. Yep thats right! It is time to begin writing.
This week you should complete your first chapter. You have one week!
3) Negotiate with yourself and others for your hour each day to write or
longer if you can gain more. IF you plan for your writing time you will have more success.
GO right now and state it where needed. Let your family and yourself know that this
week you will write for one hour each day at X time. Put it on paper on the fridge if you have to
and add a DO NOT DISTURB sign to the place you are writing.
But there are a few rules becasue the idea here is to make progress. When writing
chapter one there is no going back to tweak anything until your chapter rough draft is
complete. Looking back and correcting things only slows progress.
The time will come for editing and fixing typos and errors. That time is not now. For some of
you that will be hard. DO IT ANYWAY...you'll thank me later! We are gonna complete a rough draft
without going back to tweak....at all until things are ready for that.
Remember that opening sentence should attract attention making it hard for the reader to put
the story down! And the first chapter should end with a hook that keeps the reader rushing to
turn the page.
So an hour a day, that is 7 hours. Humm...if you write 500 words a day for 7 days you'll have
3500 words or so in your chapter one. Perfect. Chapters should be anywhere from 2000 to 6000
words depending on your writing style and what story you are telling.
So have a good week and happy writing! Week two hiney in chair and get to it. Negotiate for time
and use it wisely. YOU GOT THIS!!! I already cannot wait to hear next week how you have done.
I know some of you writing here with us are authors, please add any hints you have that may
help others get that first chapter going. Newbys, ask us questions and let us know where you
have struggles. We are here to help each other!!
Chapter One: Introduce the characters, who are they, what do they want, why
and what is standing in the way? Set a timer and write and keep writing. Dont look back.
Finish this chapter one this week! You can do it! Don't forget to go by my facebook Author Kim
Turner page for more hint this week and to chat--only when your hour a day is done.
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