In my last few posts I've described how I got a book deal off the back of a blog, explained why I took on an agent and given some suggestions for pitching your book. In this one I’m going to throw out a few suggestions about taking the book from an inkling of a good idea through to a first draft.
Perhaps the best bit of advice to new writers is simply to write. To sit down, face any fears you may have about the quality or otherwise of the content and just create. Obviously, if you have every detail of what you’re going to write in your head and you know what’s going to happen at each stage of the journey then lucky you. But if, like me, you simply have a feeling as to where it might go and beyond that a collection of characters flying around your head then start putting them through their paces. Play around with them and see how they interact in different situations. In some ways it’s like getting to know a new bunch of real people and although you may have certain assumptions about their characters and behavior, they may well also be capable of surprising you. For my part, I found it useful to use a blog to play with the characters, kind of busking along with the various tunes that they each come out with.
Once you’ve got a real feel for the characters then start to think more seriously about where the stories are going to go. This is both in terms of overall plot and also the arc which you think the characters might take. How will they react as you throw them into the unknown? What characteristics are they starting with and how will they be wiser, stronger or maybe even weaker by the end?
Above all, try not to be perfectionist. This might be your great work of art but if you worry about every word and sentence at first draft then no-one else may even get to read it. Instead, have at the forefront of your mind that in fact you will make all the detailed changes in later drafts. This one is just for your benefit and is all about throwing down the bulk of the content. In fact, I’d guess that in many cases you’ll find that you might not need to make as many changes as you might have thought. But the very fact that you’ve approached it in a slightly more carefree way may provide just that extra element which avoids you simply drying up after a few thousand words (something that certainly happened to me in the past).
Finally, don’t punish yourself if it doesn’t always flow. If that’s the case, just get out of the house and take a complete break. It’s not like a normal job and it can’t always be forced. But if you get to know your own rhythms and create an environment which will allow those creative juices to flow, then you’ll be well on the way. After that, whatever happens, just enjoy the process!
Tim
Tim Kevan is the author of ‘Law and Disorder’ and ‘Law and Peace’ which are published by Bloomsbury and available on amazon.
"Finally, don’t punish yourself if it doesn’t always flow. If that’s the case, just get out of the house and take a complete break. It’s not like a normal job and it can’t always be forced."
Everyone's dream is becoming a published author... but we do not sit down for a moment and think a bit about how it would be when we begin to receive deadlines...
It scares me.