thetravellingwriter:

A tip for people who either get a really good idea in their head for writing and then only end up writing one sentence to a page

I used to really struggle with this so I thought it would be good to post ways of getting through the first page.

I will go through the different kinds of ways this can effect people.

First things first. The first ten pages are the most tricky in my opinion, because you have no idea how to begin. Or it is the other way round. You can write the first ten pages easy but then struggle to think what to write afterwards.

Honestly, the best way to get over this kind of problem is planning. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT PROCRASTINATION PLANNING. I have found that knowing who you characters really are and really knowing your plot line means that you could practically write a story you know so well you could type it (or write it) in your sleep. Above is a PowerPoint presentation of character development help, and it has helped me so much with character development. It explains the five Ps and has a mind map with all the things you actually need to plan. Our might what to do it when you has time on your hands because it take s me between an hour to a hour and 45 minutes but I am telling you, it is so helpful.

The second thing you can do is plan out your plot ON PAPER. I can’t stress this enough. It is often the case that your plot is quite mixed chronologically wise so it is vital that you write it down to disintangle your thoughts.

Another thing I know people struggle with is what is known as your inner crtic. Your inner crtic is that voice inside your head telling you that what you are writing is not good enough and holds us back, limiting us. Most people have an inner crtic.  They usasally are an echo of what other people have said that have been perticularlly hurtful. The best way to deal with this is befriend your inner crtic, as no one can get rid of it as it is so desperate to be heard, but you can change what it is saying. The best thing you can do is notice what your inner critic is saying and then nutralise it with an alternertive truth. For example if your inner critic is saying ‘this is too hard’ say outloud ‘I can do this’. If you do this on a regular bases your crtic will become your ally and you will start hearing it encourage you to write

The final problem that people have is just simply coming up with an idea. The best way to with this is to start small. Start by using the ever so cliche 5Ws. They are well known because THEY WORK:

When is your story set? Is it in a different world? A different era? What challenges will they face depending on the era e.g. if it set in the 1920s, then they may have trouble being taken seriously if your character/s is/are female.

Who is your story about? (This for me is the most important. Again, use the presentaion above. You use have good characters, you will find they come to life in your head, and they come to make their own plots, and where there is good characters, good plots and stories follow.) Also, remember that character development is very important. How do they change and grow from their adventures? Do they become a better person? Do they get a redemption arc?

Why is your person doing what they are doing/going on this journey? What are their motives? This is also good for chracther development.

Where is your story set? This is very similer to the When? question. Is your story set in the rolling hills of England? The beautiful beaches of California? Or maybe in a entirely different planet. It’s entirely up to you, that is the best thing about writing your own book. You control what happens to the chracthers, storyline and how it ends. This is your adventure.

What is going to happen in your story? This is the one that is most challenging for people. This is why we deal with this question LAST, so you have a basic idea who your characters are, when the story is set? If you still have not a clue what the story is going to be about, use the beginning, middle and end stragey. Every good story needs a good beginning middle and end. Try writing a list of the key events that happen in your story and puting them in order.

Once you have your plan, set a goal to how much you are going to write a day. Remember that 500 words = approximately 1 page. I know some full time writers who aim for 10,000 words a day, but remember they have it as a full time job, so if you are just starting as a part time writing and have a different job, then you might what to aim for 1 - 2 pages a day. You can even write half a page if you feel like that is a real strench. As long as your writing, it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to write the story, do it your own time. Best selling author Chris d’Lacey (the Fire series - I highly recommend reading it) took almost15 years to write the first novel in the series, The Fire Within. Take your time and don’t rush. Also remember it is quality not quanity, 39 Steps by John Buchan (Again - highly recommend it) is only 108 pages long and it has become an absolute classic. DISCLAIMER: I was given this presentation 3 years ago by a friend before I even knew Tumblr existed - if someone knew it’s source that would be great so I can tag them.

sprimgday:

save him

honeymygs:

yoongi’s birthday countdown d-1 → relatable moments