“Don’t Polish The Turd,” And Other Oddball Writing Advice That Works

When I sit down to write, with a dozen printed books I sometimes require a dose of inspiration. With assorted pieces, I’ve posted a paper above my desk. Some of the information may sound strange, but I’ve found it helpful. This is:

1. Write as though nobody’s reading. Should you envision a reader you are going to be afraid to take chances. To your first draft, dismiss that imaginary reader and free yourself to write anything impossible, bad things happen to you. You can fix it later – in actuality, you SHOULD repair it. But you are going to not have anything to rewrite if you are too blessed to write in the first place.

2. Show up at the Webpage. Writers write. They sit down – ideally but at least as frequently as possible – and write.

3. Do not polish the turd. If you find yourself spending a lot of time trying to save a chapter a notion or a sentence, it typically means it is time to move on. You are wasting your time seeking to beautify something that, well, just plain stinks.

4. Make things happen to great folks. Novels are driven by conflict, which means things need to happen to some characters – those folks that you have established and’ve grown to love over the class of your book. Your main character may have a happy ending, however along the way he or she has to take care of danger, disappointments and regret.

5. Murder your darlings. That sentence you LOVE? The sex scene which you are convinced will win you the Pulitzer? The pages which moved you? Be well prepared to kill them. It’s the piece – perhaps not so much the individual pieces. Sometimes your very best writing is going to need to find the sharp end of your own editing blade to make things function.

6. Allow Sean Connery write your sentences. As James Bond, he’s a person of activity he really does them. That is how you should structure your sentences. Jason did not get bitten by Susan – instead, Jason was stabbed by Susan. The weapon was not found by authorities – the weapon was found by the police. Writing in the active voice keeps things going. . .and your readers reading.

7. When in doubt, pick one. Sooner or later in your story, you are most likely to face a fork in the road. Should Marianne buy in the car? Or should take off running later on? Should the guy is slapped by her? Kiss him? Prove that she has always secretly adored him? You can not seem to make, just make it when you are faced with a decision. Pick one, begin writing, and see where it belongs. If it doesn’t work out, you can always cut off it and then try again (see #5).

8. Keep your friends close and your reviewers nearer. It can be very useful to get feedback as you go, but choose your readers. Giving your precious pages to someone who is frustrated at their inability to write a book is like giving them a loaded weapon… pointed right at you.

9. Rewriting is currently writing. You might have heard the old saw that”writing is rewriting,” but I love to flip it. Rewriting is equally as legitimate a kind of imagination as your first draft. It takes more than a gloss – it takes adventuresome to make all those changes will need to be made and hitting into your stomach, however extensive they could be.

10. Jump and go naked. Be liberated. Have fun. During the tough and lonely work that’s writing, be sure to feel the joy. Unlike fame cash or publication, it.