Ideas, unfortunately, don't respect your schedule. They can hit you while you're taking a shower, at two am, during your German Exam, or thirty three thousand words into your current WIP. So what do you do?
Organization (or the lack of) of ideas affects tons of other aspects of writing such as:
1) Writer's block
2) Inspiration
3) Keeping on track
4) Starting and FINISHING a novel.
So how do you do it?
Well, most idea's aren't going to come when you want them to. Most likely, you'll have tons of ideas when you're busy and none when you're not.
So save ideas.
That way your genius won't be lost and you'll have something to write about when you have no ideas.
There's a number of ways to save ideas, but it doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you remember your ideas you're A O K. I recommend keeping them all in one place (a computer file or binder is helpful).
Here's my method:
If I get an idea, I usually come up with a title that will remind me of that idea. This goes into a file on my laptop. Later, when I have more time, I'll write up a summary and come up with the MC's name. (This I write in pink pen in my blue mini notebook). I have this binder everywhere I go. Either in the school bag I carry all day, my purse, or my nightstand. If you do keep a notebook full of ideas, I recommend you to mini size it. (Believe me it's worth it).
This way, I never forget my ideas, but at the same time I never am out of ideas.
This will be the second to last post for March. We're almost done with inspiration and reading like a writer. But before we continue with Reading and Inspiration, I'd like to give a shout-out to the YA Scavenger Hunt. You know how you're supposed to read a lot if you're a writer? Here's a perfect chance to do just that. You can win up to sixty signed YA books by April 1st. Yes, sixty. That's like seven-hundred-dollars worth of good reads. All you have to do is complete the scavenger hunt and decode the anagram, it's super easy and I finished in twenty minutes.... After all, who doesn't love free books? You can also check out bonus content from some of your favorite books, like deleted scenes, first drafts, previews, book trailers. But you only have seventy-two hours to enter! Better start searching! http://yascavengerhunt.blogspot.com/2012/03/let-hunt-begin.html
I have even more April-Related news!
April 1st isn't just April's Fools or the end of the Spring YA Scavenger Hunt, it marks the start of Script Frenzy, NaNoWriMo's sister contest. Your goal? Write one script in one month. Though Script Frenzy is meant for play-writers, as a novelist (that IS a real word) it's equally useful to teen writers. I like to use it as a way to test out new ideas without getting bogged down in setting descriptions. It's all pure dialog. If you want to join me, click on the link below! http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/
If you want to keep track of your WIP's word count for your website or blog this website is handy to html code your progress in a neat little app. You even get to choose the colors! http://www.sarracannon.com/wordmeter/
As promised, we're going into the first step more. Under this topic we'll include Reading, Inspiration, and Ways You Can Set Yourself Up For Success Before Writing.
So today let's talk about Finding What You Write Best.
Let's face it, no one is perfect. No one is good at everything.... The list of sayings go on forever. But there's a perfect fit for you out there.
If you're meant to write young adult chick lit, and try to write a adult gore fantasy novel, you're setting yourself up for failure. You can be the best writer in the world, but it just won't work.
Let's look at it this way:
Taylor Swift is a great singer (in my opinion), iconic for her auto-tune free voice and country charm. She's one of the most down to earth stars and a good rule model.
But let's face it. As good as a singer she is, Taylor Swift wouldn't be the same or as good as she currently is if she wore all black, died her hair green, and crooned out songs with more screaming than singing while sporting multiple lip rings.
It's the same in writing, as much as some people love Harry Potter, there is much debate as to if JK Rowling can write a good adult novel.While that isn't too far off, somethings are. There is one or two genres (or types of books) that you will truly shine in, with an assortment of other genres you might do okay in.
While the easiest way to tell what genre you should write is by what books you enjoy the best, you can try this quiz and see.
Once you pick your genres, I'd recommend learning as much as you can about them. What kinds of people write this genre? Where can I learn more about it? What research will I need? It varies from genre to genre. (If I can, I'm going to get a guest blogger for each genre). Try practicing writing this genre. Who reads this kind of genre. Google it. Wikipedia search. Learn as much as you can, because this might be the key to getting you published.
