WRITE
NOW!
How To Write
That Novel—
Today
by Francine Saint Marie
A “Fair Trade” Publication
by Fifth Column Press
~ Smashwords Edition ~
Content & Cover © The Author -2009
All Rights Reserved
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“If you can hold a conversation with someone, describe the dream you had last night, share a childhood memory, or discuss what happened to you at work today, then, believe me,
YOU CAN WRITE.”
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“Trust yourself…the only way you can fail here is if you won’t write…all artistic endeavors are achievements unto themselves.”
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Praise for WRITE NOW!
Capalynn says, “Such a great piece Francine, thank you. I have been trying for a couple of years to write a novel. I have the outline, and the ideas already. I have written a couple of chapters. My issue is that I seem to lack the time, and when I have the time, I lack the motivation. Not only that, but I have never really taken any creative writing courses, although I have a degree in literature. This has been inspiring for me to write this month. I will let you know how far along I am by the end of the year! Thank you.”
ReuVera says, “Dear Francine! So much thank you for this!!! I've read it in one breath. It's not only informative, it's inspiring.. Do you teach writing too? Some years ago I took an on-line course in writing books for children. It was very good, I got a lot of How-information, but writing felt mostly like going into engineering process…I wrote several short stories in the process of the course and they are still in my computer. I haven't written anything after. Now I have a kind of rush on my fingers to grab the key-board :) Thank you! P.S. I'm heading today to the library to look for your books.”
Feline Prophet says, “Am I glad I stumbled on this! While I don't think I have the gumption to write a novel, this is the first time I've seen tips that make me feel maybe I could try...those first 500 words at least! Thanks Francine!”
K. Ellis says, “Wonderful and you have the novels to back it up…”
AEvans says, “What wonderful tools to have at hand, I have printed these for my own record!! :)”
Cindyvine says, “Great tips, Francine! Thanks!”
Treehappy says, “Great! Your writing makes me energetic.”
Elena says, “I'm just a reader, never attempted to write anything, my one interest is reading reading reading. Contrary to popular belief, not everybody aims to write, fancy that, the BIG majority of us wants to read a good story (even writers want that, I think!). So, folks, listen to this author. Heeding these tips may be in writers' best interest! 'Course, it's also in readers' best interest! I'm saying so because I've read her stuff! Do you and your readers a big favor: Listen to her. Thanks for this, Francine!”
The Lost Dutchman says, “Inspiring…shows you're a published author... and a visual artist too!”
Editor/BD Books says, "Saint Marie has a reassuring and gentle voice, and 'WRITE NOW!' is a must-have for anyone with writer's block, self-doubts, or even just a healthy intellectual curiosity."
About the Author
Francine Saint Marie’s debut novel, “The Secret Keeping” is currently a Kindle Store Bestseller and was a 2006 LAMBDA Notable Book, a 2007 Goldie Award finalist for best dramatic fiction, a 2007 semi-finalist for the Independent Publisher’s Award, and a 2007 IPPY Award Bronze medalist. Her trilogy “The Secret Trilogy” was nominated for the 2009 Ferro/Grumley literary prize in fiction. She is also the author of a popular collection of thematic shorts, called“Girl Trouble” and a has just released a memoir. A writer and fine artist, she was born, educated, and resides in New York.
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WRITE NOW!
INTRODUCTION
Whether you're struggling to write your debut novel or experiencing a writer's block, you are not a writer if you don't write, so let's try to fix this today. It's going to be a lot easier than you think. You just need someplace to work, a pencil and paper (or a computer) and an hour or so a day to get started...
As you're already aware by now, writing is a craft, a discipline, and you've probably also heard that you should undertake to do it everyday. I'm not going to contradict this because it is essentially the truth—the more you write, the better you become at it. But, for some writers, even the most prolific ones, writing on a daily basis can prove to be a daunting task. And, since writing is such a solitary activity, there's no one else on earth that can make us do it. Here are a few useful tools and some simple tricks that I rely on to keep myself focused and motivated everyday.
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TIPS, TOOLS, AND
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
Part One: Jumpstarting
1. ENVIRONMENT IS A FACTOR. The phone's ringing, the TV's blasting, the dog's yapping and your partner's grumbling about dinner—YOU'RE RIGHT, it's absolutely impossible to focus on your novel with all this stuff going on in the background, so, first things first, you need to find yourself a decent size hole to work in, preferably with a door on it, and get in there once a day. Alone.
I deliberately write (and write deliberately) in a very small room. My modest study is only about 8' x 9' square and, aside from one stalwart black cat and a stoical houseplant, a desk, a chair, a computer, four walls and some reference books, there's nothing else in this tiny universe but me and my manuscript.
This is, of course, the ideal setup for a novelist, a quiet room with a door one can close and even sometimes lock when necessary, but, if you don't have access to such a luxury, then just pick a peaceful setting, such as your public library, and choose a peaceful hour to regularly and ritually work there. PEACE is an operative word in all this, because you need to CONCENTRATE to write well. And to hear what you and your characters are thinking.
2. AVOID WINDOWS. Windows are for watching out of, for daydreaming in, or even, on special occasions, for jumping from, but you know you can't write a novel if you're staring out the window, watching traffic or about to take a flying leap, so just pull the curtains on those babies if you have to. Or, even better, sit with your back to them. By the way, if you consistently find that what's going on outside is more interesting than what's going on inside, it's a sure indication that it's time for another rewrite.
3. LOOK FOR SOME GOOD SIGNS. I've got these four posted in my study. Yes, right over the window. There are a few other signs in there, too, of course, and I'll get to them below, but here are the ones you need to begin with, what I would consider to be the essentials:
• Describe, describe, describe, describe.
• Advance the goddamned plot!