Why write anything? To convey ideas, to share, to connect? A bid for a little bit of immortality? We want good reviews: to have someone say or write “That’s really good” or something more specific – feedback that your writing resonated with them, that you expressed something that they felt and that hadn’t been put into words before. A connection made.
At best, writing flows in the same way that climbing can flow. Your unhelpful head and self-conscious measuring mind steps out of the way and allows a more authentic voice to speak. Are these then universal words coming through, ideas from a Jungian collective unconscious? If a dancer can be danced rather than dance, can a writer be written rather than write?
I had long wanted to write stories for my children, to provide detail to the short versions I had told them over the years: about my childhood, school days, climbing and travels, as well as the ancestral tales of their grandparents and those before. I’m a writer more than a talker. I like the time that writing allows to expand on an event, idea or theme, that for me at least, in the telling, would not be fully formed.
As my mother developed dementia, I became hungry for her stories. My personal history was vanishing before my eyes and I tried to capture it. We talked a lot in her last years, but the details gathered were limited and I ended up simply wishing I had talked to her more. It was the same with my Dad who had died 5 years previously. That was the impetus, along with the time that Covid lockdowns gave us, to set out on this writing journey. I like this idea, it’s something we can all do: writing family tales for one’s children, for one’s family, for one’s circle of friends, a way of explaining a life.
Working a full-time job and with three other people sharing the house, I had to be fluid in when I wrote. This made it easier in some ways as I could usually go with an idea, a thought, a turn of phrase as soon as it had arisen. Nick Cave has talked and written of crafting his poetry following a 9 to 5 schedule. That discipline and routine gives him something. Creating when not feeling creative, working through a writer’s block by simply writing, anything, stream of consciousness bullshit if needed, until sparkles begin to emerge, and that creative excitement starts bubbling. ‘Morning pages’ achieves this result too: first thing every day, 20 or whatever minutes of writing, even when you have nothing to write.
Audrey Lorde, feminist and poet, wrote: ‘For there are no new ideas. Only new ways of making them felt.’
We’ve Got History became a beautiful process; it grew legs and took me for a walk. The meeting of an old friend, the telling of a shared adventure, revealed different memories and experiences that enriched the whole event. It seems that memory, and history itself can be forged in the present moment with a certain alchemy and sprinkle of magic. As I wrote about my past, in this piece particularly, I was adding to it, touching it with thought and inquiry and curiosity from my present-day perspective. There was then a wonderful serendipity writing this with Geoffrey Winthrop Young’s book to hand, as in the piece, I write of meeting his wife, Eleanor. Concluding the chapter, I spontaneously reached for his book from the shelf behind to read his wonderful last line that aimed at the same truth that I was expressing myself: that memories can be even more magnificent than the mountains themselves.
With my autobiographical writing I felt I was turning memory into myth, was unearthing themes and connections in my life that I had previously been unaware of. And by reminiscing and adding words to the images and memories, I was forming deeper memories of those events.
With Artificial Intelligence now nudging the writer’s pen there are ethical issues to ponder. Some of the blogs on this website were originally AI generated. This caused me deep discomfort. I felt that a disclaimer was necessary at the start. Perhaps it is. But I think that AI is easy to spot. It is over enthusiastic, lacks a human touch and is devoid of humour. What it does do well is to provide a useful structure. So, now over to AI, as these writing thoughts and tips are actually quite sound and useful, in my humble opinion. In fact, I wish I had read this before I began…
The journey of writing is a winding path, filled with complexities and nuances that can both inspire and challenge the writer. From the flicker of the first idea to the polished piece that finally emerges, the writing process is as diverse and varied as the writers themselves. Yet, understanding this process is crucial. Whether you’re a budding writer, penning down your first story, or a seasoned author with a library of works under your belt, the foundation remains the same. This guide aims to navigate through the labyrinth of the writing process, offering a step-by-step exploration tailored for both novices and experts.
1. The Birth of a Book Idea
Every masterpiece (and even a load of bollocks) starts with a single idea, a fleeting thought that gradually blossoms into a narrative. Hopefully this idea grips and excites and brings with it energy and momentum. It could be a personal experience that moulds itself into a fictional tale, a historical event that urges research, or even a simple observation that spirals into a gripping thriller or romance. No matter the genre—be it fiction, non-fiction, or anything in between—what helps is nurturing this idea, allowing it to grow and evolve.
2. Structuring Your Thoughts
The structure of your thoughts acts as a kind of bedrock to your writing. It can be useful to jot it all down, draw mind maps, journeys, add visual prompts and motifs to get a sense of the whole and the essence, the core theme. The thesis statement emerges as a lighthouse, guiding the direction of your content, ensuring every sentence and paragraph you write aligns with your core message.
Crafting your work isn’t just about putting words on paper; it’s an art of arranging those words in a logical order. This logical progression ensures your ideas connect seamlessly, making the content coherent and captivating for the reader. Each sentence and paragraph should flow into the next, creating a narrative tapestry that’s both engaging and enlightening. Yes, there are grammar rules but more important is how easy or difficult it is too read. Individual voices and the creative use of rules and conventions is more important than a strict adherence to what’s come before.
3. Setting Up for Success: Your Writing Environment
Writers often romanticise the idea of a ‘perfect writing space’ – and for a good reason. The environment in which you write plays a pivotal role in not just the quality of your writing, but also the consistency with which you produce it. A dedicated writing space acts as a sanctuary, free from distractions, enabling you to remain focused and immersed in your narrative world. We can create environments and for some writers it can be a ‘pop up’ affair in any physical setting. The focus and intent can be carried anywhere, at the right moment.
Your chosen environment has a ripple effect, influencing not just the quality of your writing but also your productivity. It dictates how much time you dedicate to writing, how efficient that writing time is, and how you approach the task at hand. Finding and fostering this space can be transformative for your writing journey. Do the 9 to 5 thing if it helps, you’ll have Nick Cave for company which has to be a good thing; do sporadic bursts at different times and in different places if that is more your thing. Be creative with the process, see what works for you.
4. Planning: The Roadmap of Writing
Yet, it’s not just about slotting writing time into your day. It’s about setting realistic writing goals. Consider this: would you rather aim to write 5,000 words daily and falter or target 500 words and exceed it consistently? By breaking down your overarching goal into manageable chunks, not only do you make the process less daunting, but you also experience the joy and motivation of consistent achievement.
Goal setting is an art and can be highly motivational. Setting goals for the book or piece itself is useful in providing a direction of travel and a ‘dream’ target.
5. The Actual Task: Start Writing
Just sit down and start writing. However, any writer will attest to the myriad of challenges lurking in this phase. The blank page, with its blinking cursor, can sometimes seem more like a glaring abyss, making even the most seasoned writer’s mind go blank. You’ll do anything instead at times. The washing up, damp dusting the services, cutting your toenails…
Writer’s block is a notorious challenge, but it’s not insurmountable. Strategies such as free-writing, changing your writing environment, or even taking a short break can reignite the spark. As you embark on this journey, always hold onto the mantra, “The first draft is just you telling the story to yourself.” It’s a gentle reminder that perfection isn’t the goal; expression is.
6. Review and Revise: Self-assessment
The act of writing is profoundly personal. It’s a piece of your soul translated into words. But once that initial outpouring is over, it’s essential to don the hat of a critic. Revisiting your work with a fresh, analytical perspective allows you to identify areas of improvement.
Before you let the world into your narrative universe, it’s paramount to revise and edit your work thoroughly. This isn’t merely about correcting grammatical errors or fixing sentence structures. It’s about ensuring your story flows seamlessly, that your arguments are logical, and that your message is crystal clear.
Self-review can be challenging, given our inherent biases towards our creations. But it’s a crucial step. Looking for plot holes, checking for consistent pacing, and ensuring clarity can make the difference between a good piece and a great one. Your self-critic might be unnecessarily harsh leading you to think that what you have is a load of nonsense. It might be, but it probably isn’t.
7. Editing and Proofreading: Polishing the Diamond
Once your story is down on paper, the journey of refinement begins. It’s akin to cutting a raw diamond, shaping its facets to reveal its true brilliance. But it’s essential to understand that editing and proofreading, though often used interchangeably, serve different purposes in this shaping process.
Editing deals with the content, examining the coherence of the story, the depth of the characters, or the strength of the arguments. It’s about ensuring that your message is consistent and compelling. With a rough draft completed, it might then become possible to make more of the connections between chapters and sections, to set up echoes and resonance across the whole manuscript that amplifies the themes in both obvious and subtle ways.
In contrast, proofreading is the final sweep, focusing on the surface-level details such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It’s this combination that transforms a draft into a fully realised piece. Yet, editing, particularly, benefits from external perspectives. Fresh eyes can catch inconsistencies or ambiguities that the writer, being too close to the material, might overlook.
8. Getting Feedback: Fresh Eyes on Your Work
Writing is both personal and public. While the initial drafts are a solitary endeavour, feedback breathes life into the narrative, offering a fresh perspective. External reviews are invaluable, providing insights into areas you might’ve missed and assuring that your narrative resonates with the intended audience. Any positive feedback, of course, is invigorating and necessary to keep you on the path, keeps you believing that you have something of worth. Who is your audience? Who would want to read your self-indulgent scribblings and why? Harsh questions, but important to consider if you are planning to publish and gain an audience beyond family and friends.
9. Traditional vs. Self-Publishing
Go traditional or take the reins with self-publishing? Both paths have their merits and challenges.
Traditional publishing offers the advantage of a professional team, from editors to marketers, backing your book. But it often means less creative control and a smaller slice of the royalties. Traditional publishing is very difficult. You will need to grab the interest of an agent who probably receives hundreds if not thousands of book drafts a year. You can expect to be asked how many followers you have on social media. The bottom line is: how marketable is your book, how many units will it sell? Not how unique, amazing or magical it is. Making a short list of agents who represent authors in your genre is a good start. Agents can found in the voluminous Writers and Artists Yearbook – a resource that is useful to get to know. Then crafting perfect pitches to match the specific requests you will find on their web pages associated with submissions. This is usually something like a summary, a chapter synopsis and a sample chapter or two. Be prepared for rejection letters and emails. Be prepared for a deafening wall of silence!
Self-publishing grants you complete control over your work, from cover design to pricing. However, it also means taking on the roles of writer, editor, designer, marketer, and distributor. More work, but less compromises. Finding other people to support you is really helpful. Other authors might offer coaching, you can find people to help with website development and other digital marketing. Help with formatting will be needed before going down the final stages of creating a physical book.
10. Promoting Your Work
In the digital age, writing the book is only half the battle. With millions of books available at the click of a button, how do you ensure that your work stands out and reaches its intended audience?
The power of social media cannot be understated in this context. Platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram offer writers direct access to their readers. Leveraging these platforms allows you to build a community around your work, engage with your audience, and even gain insights into their preferences and feedback.
The world of literature is vast, and there’s always room for one more voice. Yours could be the next one that resonates, inspires, and captivates. Embrace the process, for therein lies the true magic of writing.
