Save the Questions for Later

The continuation of "How Do You Write Novels"...  

#6.      Barf first, ask questions later

Essentially, the point is to get something down onto the paper. Maybe you’re the type who needs to handwrite your work, maybe you’re a typist like me—it doesn’t matter, as long as you get something down on paper.

There are a lot of different ways to get going when it comes to novels. Some people outline, others make a file of random things they need to remember and things they’d like to include, and others (like me) just sit down and start writing, and see where the story goes. I like to take it one chapter at a time.

This is some of the best advice that I can give you, no matter how you write:

Barf first.

No, I don’t mean puking your guts out. I just mean word vomit, whatever you can think of, whatever might make a good story.

When you’re done, go back and read it, ask questions, cut sentences (or paragraphs, or pages…) that don’t make any sense.

Once you get used to getting your ideas down on paper, the asking questions part will come naturally to you. But when you’re starting out, it’s better to barf than to pose so many hypotheticals that the story never gets going.

Take it from me, when you’ve done this enough times your brain will automatically combine the two, and you’ll get used to questioning while you’re writing (instead of questioning before or after).

Have a good weekend everyone!

{Rani D.}