Step 1: In Which You Have a Fantastic Idea

The Fantastic Idea has taken up residence in your head. You've named and outfitted your main characters (MCs). Their conversastions interrupt your meetings, television shows, and (unfortunately) conferences with your kids' teachers.

Mr. What's-His-Name's struggle with addiction and difficulty falling in love is completely understandable to you, and you are sure that Miss-Whosit is the only one who can help him out of it. And such a story can only take place in the quaint and unique town of Something-Ville.

If the townspeople are starting to distract your daily life, it's time to get them on paper. For many writers, the first time sitting down at that blank computer is the hardest moment of their project. After all, the story is safe at home in your brain; once you release it to the world, it gets dangerous. It can take on a life of its own, not to mention monopolize your spare time.

But that's when it gets fun...

In On Writing, Stephen King says you should write first for yourself. Your story will begin to breathe if you don’t agonize over your word choice at first. Don’t smother it with worries about syntax just yet. Instead, sit down and start spitting your plot out onto your blank paper – you will revise it about a hundred times before it’s finished. Don't fret if it feels forced at first; the more time you spend in the story, with the characters, the process will feel more natural.

And finally, be glad you're not scratching this on parchment with a quill pen like Jane Austen. You at least have a Delete button.

Next post: how to find time to write in your busy schedule.

Happy Writing!

MM