Jan

9

The Secret to Writing a Novel

Filed Under Art of Writing 

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about this. Want to know the big secret about writing a novel? The magic six words that will reveal the universal truth?

Get off your ass and write!

Yup. That’s it.

But Lisa, what does that mean?

Exactly what it sounds like. Stop finding excuses and get to work. Get your favorite writing utensil and paper, or sit down in front of your computer and write.

But Lisa, I can’t!

Sure you can. It’s not difficult.

But I don’t know what to write about!

Ah, that’s a different problem.

But…

Enough buts. Those are all just excuses, things you’re using to talk yourself out of getting to work.

It’d be nice if I could follow my own advice, eh? :)

I have to admit, I’ve been talking myself out of writing for the past couple of weeks. Some of the reasons for not writing are legitimate (like not being able to read or work on the computer because the old glasses are giving me migraines). Others aren’t (I need to read this article about… Oooo! Bubble shooter!)

Something happened yesterday, though, that has gotten through the buts in my brain to the egotistical center that every writer has. A member of my writing group said “Post more chapters, Lisa. Your story is a lot of fun to read.” Okay, I admit it, it was two different people, one sentence from each of them, but the effect was the same. The whole reason I started to write the novel was because I had a story brewing in my head, and it as a story that I not only wanted to write, but wanted other people to read. It is a fun story. I find myself smiling and laughing when I’m think about some of the scenes. I cringe when I think about some of the things I intend to put the hero and heroine through, but I’m smiling at the same time because I am Evil (just ask my husband) and I know no prize is worth winning unless there’s risk involved. The old “no pain, no gain” thing.

So thanks again, Pendragon Writers. You said the right thing at the right time, and I’m motivated again. This afternoon, once Ari-zilla is on her way to school and I’ve got the house to myself, I’ll start writing.

And yes, I mean it this time. :)

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