Friends, I will be taking a few days off to attend my family reunion and spend time with family now that school is out. You can still reach me, leave comments, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, continue to work on your book!
I will be back in just a few days! God’s blessings on each of you this week.
Janet Sikes Anderson
Categories: Simple Thoughts to Share
The next step in writing your book is one of the most fun. You have your first 350 words written, you have a working outline, and you have begun to fill in the details of that outline. The next step will encompass the largest chunk of time because it is the actual writing!
You may be holding back, thinking, “I’m not ready.” But the truth is YOU ARE READY TO WRITE THIS BOOK! You’ve done your homework, and all you have to do is keep writing, one chunk of text at a time.
Writing is easy if you take it in steps…just as you have been since we began.
Think back to the day that you wrote those first 10 sentences….Now that you can see the outline of the entire book, aren’t you proud of how far you’ve come? Your next step will be multiple steps, taken in any order you wish.
Choose one element from your outline….it can be the ending, the middle, any one scene, or description. Write a rough draft of that section or element. Remember, don’t obsess about making it perfect, just get the ideas down on paper or in a computer file. Once you have that section written, label it, save it, file it, and select another section. Continue in this fashion until you’ve filled in the text for every section in your outline. Some sections will be one or two paragraphs long….others may be several pages…but work in the order that seems logical to you.
Some writers will begin at the beginning and write toward the end of the story. Others will select major components of the story line and then fill in details around them, creating connection lines and paragraphs from one section to another. Whatever works for you is great…there’s no wrong way to write a book!
Once this is done we’ll begin to talk about rewrites, editing, and looking for the right publisher for your book!
I will be around, but busy celebrating family at a reunion this week. Continue to write and we will compare progress reports in just a few days. I will still be able to read your comments, so please continue to write to me and to others through this site. God’s blessings on you all.
Janet Sikes Anderson
Categories: Writing Practice
Tagged: book writing, creating a rough draft, elements of an outline, filling in the details of your outline, how to write a book, Outline, ready to write a book, Writing, writing a book
Organizing your Outline is a step that will happen once; however, you may find that during the the process of writing, some minor revisions will take place. This is normal, so don’t think of the outline you create today as a rigid checklist, but as a guide.
In Writing Your Book – Step 4 – Creating an Outline, you wrote 10 to 12 descriptive sentences that contain compelling elements in your story. After sorting these sentences into a logical, sequential order, you saw that you had created the beginnings of a working outline. Today you are going to refine your outline, separating some larger ideas into smaller sections under one main topic heading. Since your outline will act as a road map while you write, you will compare your existing outline to the intended “flow” of the story. And finally, you will look at each topic sentence, or heading in your outline and add brief descriptions of actions, scenes, conflicts that will appear as subheadings under each topic sentence.
If you were to use typical outline formatting, your topic sentences will appear as headings. These are the main elements around which your story will be structured. These main elements, or topics, can be numbered in this fashion:
After you have inserted your topic sentences into the format that works for you, you will go back and fill in details for each topic. Include your ideas for scenes, character development, and even subtle clues that will help generate anticipation for your readers. As you work, include as many details as possible so that the next step…writing the book…. will be just like following a map.
Some writers find that their outlines are generally vague and can be written on one page. Others find that their outlines are quite detailed and are several pages long. The more you write, the more you’ll develop your own outline style. Remember, unlike when you were in school, there isn’t a wrong way to do this.
One word of caution: It is at this point that many would-be writers give up. When it comes right down to it, they have not thought through all the elements of the story and they do not wish to work at this part of the writing process. I would encourage you to push yourself through this stage of writing so that the next step is more enjoyable. Think of this like you did eating your vegetables as a child. After repeated exposure to some vegetables, we learned to like them and eventually learned that they are an integral part of our diets. Refining your outline may be like that for you….keep working on it and eventually you will recognize its value and may even learn to like it.
Categories: Simple Thoughts to Share
Tagged: Outline, refine your outline, subheadings, topic heading, topic sentence, Working Outline
Congratulations! You’re finally taking the steps necessary to get your story in draft form and on its way to being published! If you’ve been following for a few days and have completed the first few steps in this process then you’re ready for Step 4. Let’s get started….
Today you will reread your first 350 words. Every word represents a step toward completion, so take a brief moment, smile, and know that you are on your way to your goal. Don’t do rewrites yet unless you need to make a change in the direction of the story. For now we’re just focusing on getting a draft down with which to work. Don’t forget that the goal is to actually write the book….editing comes later.
You may or may not have a clear picture in your head about the conflicts, and eventual resolution that will happen later in your story. But we’re going to begin mapping it out now.
Just as we did on the first day, we are going to write ten sentences. However, today, those sentences will all represent a chapter, conflict, or resolution that will occur in the story. All ten sentences will follow the path you’ve begun in those first 350 words and carry the story through to the end.
Remember that you don’t necessarily have to write all ten in the order they will happen. Just get your thoughts down on paper. Think of it as brainstorming if that helps. You may want to include:
Write at least ten, but you can do twelve if that’s what you need to tell the story. Think of it like a quick explanation of the entire story in 10 to 12 sentences. Once you feel satisfied that you’ve got a good outline going, put them in some sort of logical order. These sentences will become the chapters and important scenes for the rest of your book but they don’t have to be complete yet. This may not be your final outline, but it will help you keep your thoughts organized for the rest of the writing process. Don’t worry that you don’t have specific details filled in for everything. It will come.
Now stop and ask yourself….did you ever think you could get to the point that you have a working outline in just 4 days? I’m really proud of those of you who are taking these steps and you should be proud, too. For today I want to give you one more assignment….think of it as homework. Sometime in the next 24 hours I want you to tell someone you care about that you’ve finally started your book. Many of you, including my own cousin, Belinda, have confessed that people have been telling you for years that you should write your story. And now you are. You have a right to be proud of the steps you are taking, so tell someone and then enjoy the pat on the back that you get from them. You deserve it. See you tomorrow!
Categories: Writing Practice
Tagged: Creating an Outline, creative writing, Starting your book, steps to getting a book published, steps to writing a book, Working Outline, Writing
By now you’ve had time to finish your first 100 words on your book. According to statistics, you’re ahead of the curve by now. Some of the greatest books never written are just that because the would-be author never started. But you are no longer one of those frustrated would-be writers. You’ve taken that all important first step…..First you wrote ten starting lines….then you chose your favorite and wrote the first 100 words of that story. Take a moment and pat yourself on the back….Good Job!
NOW….get back to work.
Your assignment for today is another simple step toward getting the masterpiece in your head down on paper – or your hard drive… It’s very simple. Today you will write 250 words and add them to the 100 you wrote during your last session. This is probably the largest assignment you’ll face for a while, so turn off all the distractions, including your phone, and concentrate…you can probably do this in just a little while.
If you’re one of the lucky picture book writers, you may be very close to the end of this story…you may, in fact, be finished with the original draft. If your story will become a novel or non-fiction book you are probably just beginning, but like I said before, getting started is 90 percent of the battle for the beginning writer.
On a personal note, you may want to create a folder on your computer or in a file drawer in which to keep this and other first drafts. I like to keep a copy of that first run through and later compare it to the final draft to see how the two compare. I love to see how a story develops over time, but it also creates a check point against which I can measure the final draft to make sure every part of the story remains true to the idea that was born on that first day.
Be sure to date this draft… By dating it you give yourself a time line that begins today…when you date it you will create a gentle pressure that will keep you going toward the eventual publication of this fantastic story. If you date it, file it, and never do anything else with it, the date at the bottom of the draft will remind you to GET BUSY!
At the end of today’s assignment you will have 350 words written. Don’t try to do a lot of rewrites…revise as you write to tell the story, but don’t get bogged down trying to achieve perfection. Today is still about getting your draft roughed out.
Leave a brief comment (don’t let it keep you from working on your story) and let everyone know how you’re doing, what struggles you’re having, or how inspired you are to see your story finally beginning to take shape….
I can’t wait to hear from all of you about how great getting started feels!
Categories: Writing Practice
Tagged: beginning, first draft, Getting Started, novel, short story, Write, Writing
For all you writers out there….stop saying, “I’m a ‘wannabe’ writer.” If you ever write anything….you’re a writer. Are we all published? No. Are we all making a living with our writing? No. Is money the point? Well…..sometimes. But in this case, write what is true to your heart and to your experience and let it find its own market.
Today’s writing exercise is to take just one of the beginning lines from yesterday’s assignment and write 100 words beginning with that sentence. Just 100 words. It’s easy…try it and you’ll see. If you write more than that today, then GREAT!
By the way….the words before THIS sentence add up to 101 words.
For many writers the hard part is beginning…there is so much to learn and so much that can be done, that we let the possibilities overwhelm us. So for today, take your favorite beginning line from those you wrote yesterday and begin to write that story. Ask yourself, “If I were reading this story, where would I want it to go?” …..and take it there. Allow your characters to be who they are….let them have full personalities…and remember that they may have some flaws. Fill in the blanks with descriptions so that your readers can “see” what you see in your head. And don’t worry about perfection. Remember, editing will come later. For today just get started.
I am on this journey with you and as I share what I am learning about writing, I would love to hear from you about your personal journey as a writer. I write children’s books, and your writing may be much more intellectual or sophisticated than mine, but the steps are the same.
So get in position. Extend your fingers over the keyboard. Turn off the television…..now WRITE!
Categories: Writing Practice
Tagged: Beginning Writers, Writing, writing tips
Today’s exercise for writers is to write down the first line of at least 10 story ideas….just one line. You have all day to do it. They can be for a children’s picture book, a novel, a non-fiction book, or even a biography…the type of book doesn’t matter. You can even write the first line of a variety of different books. That’s it…ten first lines and you’re done. Keep going if you get inspired, but that is your minimum requirement for today. If you need to step away from the computer at any point, take a note card or pad of paper with you so that you can write while you’re doing other things. Just write down ideas and you can perfect them later.
My first one is …….
“She turned the knob with tiny fingers that were smudged with dirt from the garden….”
Categories: Writing Practice
Tagged: Beginning Writers, Encouragement, Getting Started, Writers, Writing
I came home the other day and found my teenage son looking at the computer. At first I didn’t notice what he was doing, but something caught my eye and I went back to check…. I asked him, “What are you doing?” He looked at me with that expression kids get when they’ve been caught doing something they shouldn’t. You may be thinking…”Uh Oh! She caught him.” But that’s not it. He was looking at the ARMY’s website…checking to see how to enlist and what jobs are available for a high school graduate.
The swirl of emotions that rushed through me left me out of breath. I couldn’t stop the tears that came time and time again in spite of his assurances that he would never just show up and tell us he’d enlisted. (But truthfully, I’m not so sure that’s something he can promise.) Everything that I am screamed “NO!” inside my head.
When my son was born he had a difficult birth and almost died. During those days that we spent in the neonatal unit praying for his healing, I relinquished him back to God to do with as He saw fit….or at least I thought I had. In every area of his life I tried my best to let God lead my son wherever and however He desires.
But as I looked up into my son’s brown eyes, now within inches of my own, my heart was gripped with fear. This was the one scenario I hadn’t imagined… This was the one area that my heart would never let me go. I never once considered the possibility that I would have to watch him walk away from me in a military uniform…not knowing when I’d see him again – or IF I would see him again. Even though I thought my prayer all those years ago was one of complete submission to God, standing here next to my 6′1″ little boy – who is now every inch a man – I realize that it wasn’t. My submission to God’s plan still had limitations and I had to admit that my willingness to allow God to lead was contingent on God leading to a place that I agreed upon.
I even said to him now, in a choked whisper, “I already heard the words, ‘He might not live.’ A mama ought not have to hear those words about her child more than once in her life.” But my son is so patriotic and so brave that he can’t imagine not going if he is needed. I counseled him that it was a noble choice, but one best left until after college so that he would enter the service as an officer….to set the groundwork for a better career. But he saw through me immediately. If he takes 4 years to go off to college, who knows what might happen to change the world….or at least to change his mind in that amount of time?
I’ve realized in the days since that moment that the brave ones aren’t only the ones in uniforms. Their families must also be brave. To wallow in my fear for my son would diminish his bravery and his love for his country. If I love him then I must support his choice and be just as brave as he is. This is a choice. It does not come easily.
A wise man from our church tells all the teenage boys, “Life is about choices and consequences. Some consequences are good and some are bad…but life is about choices and consequences.” So this is my choice. My heart is hard-wired to protect my child and so it screams, “Don’t do this!” But if he does…and this choice hasn’t yet been made…but if he does, then my choice will be to try to match my bravery to his. That is my choice.
….updates to come….
Categories: Simple Thoughts to Share
Tagged: military families, military service, patriotism
