Is it time to write that book you’ve always dreamed about?
How to kick-start your new writing hobby and work towards completing a writing project
Have you always thought you’d like to write a book, but never had time? Or didn’t know how you’d be able to fit it in around all your other commitments – work, family, social? Other people?
But perhaps you’ve got a bit more time now. Time for you. Time to rediscover dreams you put to one side because of all the other commitments. Here at Writers Online we see lots of people rediscovering their love of writing after years of not having time for it – and realising their life-long dreams and ambitions of getting their books written and seeing their names in print!
The saying is that everyone’s got a book in them – but the important thing is getting it out, onto the page. If that idea chimes with you, and you’d like to add ‘author’ to your list of achievements, why not make a start?
- Get a notebook, and start jotting down thoughts about the book you’d like to write. Whether it’s fiction, memoir, poetry, or a book that draws on your skills to help other people, make notes. Think of possible titles, chapters, characters. Dream on the page. This notebook is where you play around with your ideas.
- Find your groove. Try your hand at different kinds of writing – short stories, poems, non-fiction – and see what suits you best. If you’re not sure how to get started, this is a good way to get ideas – because one idea spawns another, and it’s easier to find inspiration when you’re writing than when you’re staring at a blank page.
- Develop a routine. Have you half an hour a day that could be designated writing time? Or an hour? Like any habit, once you get into it, it’s easier to turn up every day and do it. We’re often reluctant to put ourselves first and claim time to do something we love, but if you programme it in and prioritise your writing time, it will soon start to feel natural.
- Do it in small chunks. Writing a book is a major project but it’s manageable if you break it down into achievable targets. If you write 300 words a day, that’s more than 2,000 words a week. If a book is 70,000 words, at that rate you could write a draft in 35 weeks. Or you could write a chapter a week. Or a page a day. Whatever works for you.
- Get connected with other writers. Finding a writing group, in real life or online, means being part of a community of like-minded people who will get what you’re doing. You’ll be able to inspire and encourage each other, and keep each other on track.
- Believe in yourself as a writer. It doesn’t matter if you’re not published yet – if you write, you’re a writer. Give yourself and your writing project the time, space and faith you deserve.
- Subscribe to Writing Magazine, and bookmark Writers Online! It’s the number one brand for writers and it’s geared to helping you achieve your writing ambitions. The magazine and website are packed with writing advice, inspiration and motivation, including up-to-date info on how to complete your manuscript and get it published. And reading the stories of people like you who’ve published the book they’ve always dreamed of writing will inspire you to finish yours!
Website: www.writers-online.co.uk
Twitter: @WritingMagazine
Special Offer to Silversurfers members
Become a member of our new Writers Online Membership and have everything a writer needs at their fingertips. As a member of Silversurfers we are offering you an introductory 50% discount.
Lead Image Credit – Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash
ADVERTORIAL
