So, I get that I'm not some super special writer with anything published (yet), but I am the kind of writer who goes out looking for writing tips and tricks all the time. I read about writing as much as I write about smut and werewolves. In fact, the only things I read these days besides the occasional quick glance is writing tips and articles about top writers. One thing they all share in common that I, uh, lack: stamina. It hits 9pm, I am out. Pumpkin time. No amount of coffee or vit B complex is changing this fact, all it does is make a restless sleep that prevents me from writing the next day because my free time is taken by a nap. So, I simply work with what I've got. And I encourage all other writers out there, just work with the time you've got, however short. Standing in a long line at the store? We all got cell phones, right? I've gotten a whole paragraph or character sheet written up. I'm a crossing guard and I see about 7-10 kids all around the same time, so I spend a whole hour just standing there, so I whip out that phone and that's my editing time since I can keep my eyes moving in case one of those munchkins tries pulling a fast one on me! For those who are out of the loop, let me make you privy to Google Documents. It has its limitations that are a bit annoying, but it's good enough for the purposes of phone, tablet and computer all at once!
However, that wasn't my helpful writing tip. I learned a new technique while writing "In the Enemy's Territory" to get through writer's blocks, and it helps immensely for picking back up where I might have needed to walk away in the middle of an idea or wasn't in the mood to write something tedious. To some of you, it might be a big "duh!" Excellent! You learned it before others! But, I've the feeling there's plenty of folks out there who have struggled for years and lost the momentum on so many projects. *raises hand* I have an ancient thumbstick from the very beginning of solid state and its 256mb is filled with dead stories. So, there you are, writing furiously, everything is flowing, you're connected to some kind of cosmic energy flowing through your core, every fiber focused on the scene... and then you hit that brick wall like a high speed freight train. How do you continue? How do you bridge the gap? where do you go next? "Uhhhh, well, guess I'll... wait for inspiration." Well... if I had done that, I'd be stuck back somewhere in chapter 6-7ish. About the time I learned this technique. And in that time, after struggling for 2 years, the story suddenly took off and it's nearing done in just one. If I just had the damn stamina!
Summarize.
-The snow melts and they all go to the festival.-
MOVING ON!
-After stealing the jewel in a clever manner, the two must hide in a cave, and then they fuck.-
CONTINUING!
-They have a conversation explaining the laws of the magic.-
ONWARD TO GLORY!
Beautifully simple, no? Simple, but a lot harder than you think. Especially when it's a change in how you think about writing. Practice. Practice. Practice makes better. And the most beautiful thing about this is how easily it can be expanded.
-The snow melted the next day and they got their masks ready, piled into the trailer, and had a conversation about the purpose of the fest. When they arrive, everyone gets their masks on and there's a scene with pups.-
Keep it going, keep filling it in with more summarized details. And then, before you know it, it's just... detailed.
I could sit here and berate you over diligence. Consistency. I write almost EVERY day. The only days I have not written something (not always ITET) are days I am genuinely ill or my ADHD was really bad that day and got me stuck in a loop I couldn't get out of until exhaustion takes me. (I was gonna do a thing, what was it? Oh yeah, that, but shit, I couldn't cuz I had to do this other thing just so I could do that thing, but that's complicated so I'll go do this thing, but now I see this other thing to do, but wait, I was already doing a thing, what the fuck was it? Oh yeah, oh but shit, I can't do that without doing this, but look, here's this to do, wait, what was I doing....) Every top writer says the same thing. "Write. Every day." That's the truest path to success in every field I have ever done even a modicum of research into. But, we all have our lives to live. We all got jobs, families, and a grand plethora of reasons we can't give our alls to writing. Maybe it isn't even that much of a passion for you, simply a passing fancy, just a tale inside you that isn't a big deal to you, but you'd like it out at some point.
Then, my friend, summarize and move on with life. Beautifully simple. It helps when you aren't sure how to keep going, when you need to walk away and don't want to lose the idea, or when you've lost the desire to trudge through a boring/uninspired scene. I've quite literally finished the revision of "The Dragon Tamer" in summary. Every major scene start to end. I don't think it'll be taking another 10 years to finish now! Soon as I'm done with these funny talking wolves, I've got dragons flying over their heads!
Hopefully, this tip was helpful for someone. If not, then damn, I'm just late to the party! XD Speaking of parties, Anubis was right in the middle of being the new mascot for the Hallowed Bounty, and Denver and Nova were trying to hide him from the hordes of ladies.... wait, I think he knows that bitch!