[/caption]Into every blog a little transformation must fall.
I try to have a thrice-weekly theme here on Happy Ganesh. Loyal readers have probably noticed them: Manifestation Mondays, Wacky Wednesdays, and Fun Fridays.
Well, we're making a change to our HG blog family today. Goodbye "Wacky Wednesdays". You've served us well. Thank you, good luck and enjoy your retirement.
Hello, Writing Wednesdays, where for hump day, I'll blog about writing - the pleasures of it, quotes about it, and how to do it.
Today? Let's talk about how to get started. Just do it, as Nike famously says. In my other offline life, I have worked with students of all ages, most of them struggling with how to write research papers. (When my college students were not texting their friends under their desks while pretending to care about their education, they could be quite charming. Even when they walked into my office, slumped in their chair and looked panicked, some still managed to want to write, even through a haze of college jitters. )
Anyhow, no matter the age or school level of the student (I've worked with nine year olds to post-doc psychologists), these same three questions come up:
- How do I get started?
- Is this spelled right? What's a comma do?
- How do I keep writing? Is this long enough?
The answers to those ever-popular questions are (more or less)
1) Where Do I Begin?: Begin anywhere. It doesn't matter where. Most writers don't actually work from an outline. Some do. Some begin from a rough idea of a plot. Some write entirely from a pre-planned outline and don't deviate from it one bit. Some go until they are done (see #3). Some get a great idea for the One Fantastic Scene and write towards that. It really depends on you. But in order to begin? You have to begin. Just jump in.
2) The Grammar Thing: Google is great for this. Pay attention to grammar and punctuation. Diana Hacker's grammar books are easy to follow and fantastic. Plus, I'm here. And if you ask nicely, I might be convinced to answer a question or two for free - or at least point you in the right direction. (And if you've already written that book and need help, go here.)
Commas are not exactly pauses for breath. While they may sound like that, here's what they actually do
- punctuate a list ("Mary likes apples, carrots, and grapes.")
- go in front of a transition word ("Frankly, I don't give a damn!")
- separate two independent clauses from each other ("The cat drank milk, and the dog drank water.")
Really dying to know more about commas? I know you are. I know you're gagging and dying and writhing to know. Then go here.
There's more of course, but that's enough for now. The gist of that is all to say that - if you really want to write - don't worry about grammar, at least not right (write! ha!) away. Get started. Do a draft. Worry about punctuation later. (Or if you want to learn more, check out Diana Hacker's site)
3) How do I keep writing? How long is long enough?: You keep writing by putting your butt in the chair and putting your hands on the keyboard and moving them around until you produce first letters, then words, then sentences, then entire paragraphs that help you build a story.
It really is that simple. If you do it enough, you will learn how to open up communication with yourself. It's an amazing and wonderful thing.
What's also simple is time. If you want to write, you find the time. It's that simple. If you have to set an alarm, and you write from 5 pm to 5:05 every single day for a week, at the end of seven days, you have 35 minutes worth of writing. 35 entire minutes that belong to you and your story.
For more inspiration, check out my Fiver List blog from a few months back.
Try a few of these questions to get started.
1) A woman is alone on a dirt path. She carries a suitcase. Where is she going?
2) The dog bounds up to you, friendly and wagging his tail. Where did he come from?
3) Your favorite book character shows up at your front door, unannounced, as favorite fictional book characters tend to sometimes do. Who is there? What does he or she say to you?
Happy, happy writing!
See you on Friday, when I'll have more Astro updates. <3
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