The Write Stuff - Writing Tips To Help You Complete Your Book. Tip #7 – If It Works, Work It!

When I’m writing a book, literally doing the day-to-day writing of the first draft, I don’t talk about the work. To anyone. Not the plot or the characters or the title. Nothing. I believe that talking about it diverts the creative stream. For me, the work needs to flow through my fingers, not my mouth.
Now, I understand not everyone is quite as lone-wolf as me and the idea of the work “flowing” out of you possibly sounds kooky or icky or both. There are writer groups and share-your-work opportunities and writers who like getting feedback as they go. Or I imagine there are because I avoid any such situation because of my verse-not-conversation belief.

I also turn down any request by other writers to look over their draft, even when it comes with reciprocal offers. I have readers who I trust and, when my work is in a position to be read, they read it. In the meantime, I don’t want anyone else’s story-in-progress taking up space in my head. Good luck finding room in there anyway, it’s stuffed with ideas and untold tales.

I’ve had people tell me, variously, that I’m selfish, afraid of criticism, self-obsessed, and miserly. In fact, I’ve spent a lot of my career helping other artists as the CEO of various creative based organisations. There’s not just one way to help contemporaries.

All this is a way of illustrating that your process is yours alone. Don’t worry what others think about how you write. Do what works for you. Perhaps you’re the exact opposite of me. Perhaps you thrive on sharing your work as it’s being drafted, perhaps you’re inspired and energised by intimately assisting others during their writing. If that keeps you engaged and motivated, then do it. Stop worrying about what everyone else will think.

Whatever your process, once it works, keep doing it. At some point you may find that process needs revision. For years, my own process in crafting novels was to start with a general idea and let the words flow, holding it all in my head. That process worked great. Until one day it suddenly didn’t. I spent years not finishing books as a result. That’s when I realised I needed to learn from my scriptwriting career and extensively plot out a story before I began.

If your past process has you hitting brick walls then don’t be afraid to change it up, learn how others do it and adapt.

As for learning, pick the advice that speaks to you, ignore the rest.

Ultimately with writing there’s no one, winning way. This is your book. Do what you need to in order to get it written, to get you writing and keep you writing.