Some Thoughts from the Author

Thinking about writing a book is a daunting task. As is so often the case, the would be author is plagued with doubts and questions. Will anyone want to read my material? What if I can't think of an ending? What about writer's block? I experienced the same thoughts as I prepared for the writing of Azorea.
At some point, the writer simply must dive in and give it a try. I would like to offer a few hints that I found very helpful as I began my first writing endeavor. First, develop a plan of attack. When someone sets out to build a home, they draw up a detailed set of plans. Imagine if you just started hammering boards together without knowing what your house would end up looking like. It would be a disaster. Your plan of attack must include a detailed outline.
If you are like me, you probably said to yourself, "This is such a waste of time. Why don't I spend the time actually writing instead of this silly outline." All I can say is that I followed the advice given my by my older brother and mentor. He admonished me to stick to the outline and I would not go wrong. He was right.
Make your outline detailed but try to avoid wordiness. Remember, this is just the road map, not the actual journey. You want to include important plot twists, key relationship points, and a clear idea of where the story is going. Don't get hung up on chapter numbers and titles at this point. That will come naturally as you write the story.
One thing that helped me was to visualize my story, in my mind; kind of like watching a movie. As I wrote Azorea, I would put the soundtrack to Braveheart on in the background. If I closed my eyes, I could see my characters interacting in the highlands of Scotland. I could feel the cool breeze wafting from the North and smell the fresh purple heather blooming in the warm sunlight. See what I mean? If you can see the story it will be much easier to write about it.
Finally, don't limit yourself as you write. By this I mean, don't tell yourself an idea is stupid or that it won't work. Allow free reign to your creativity. There will be a time for editing, but not in the initial creative process. No idea is stupid, no thought is to far fetched. By applying this one principle, you will bring your own unique character to your writing. After all, who can say what is good or bad. Writing is merely an extension of who you are. You are unique and your writing will be as well. Don't stifle your creativity by applying premature judgments of your work.
The second tip is to find a collaborator. While writing Azorea, I relied heavily on my daughter as a sounding board for ideas, as well as a second pair of eyes to make the editing process easier. Your collaborator must be a person who is not interested in directing your ideas, instead they must simply help you to apply a critical eye to the validity of your writing.
Hand in hand with this, is the requirement to be open minded. Do not allow yourself to think that your way is the only way. This may seem contradictory to the first suggestion of not allowing your collaborator to direct your ideas, but it really is not. You must have the confidence to accept valuable input, but then be able to weigh that information in the scales of what you are trying to achieve in your work. The result will be the best of both worlds. Having a second set of eyes to view your work is an essential tool.
There are many, many, more ideas that will help you in your journey to become a writer and I will post more at a later time. Remember, be confident, be diligent and most of all, be patient. As I was on the path of writing the book I would often find myself feeling impatient. As I struggled with how to word a particular phrase or paragraph, the feeling was "Just write the darn thing. Get this done."
At times like these, I would close my computer and do something else. That is my recommendation to you. Don't force creativity. If you are feeling the need to rush on, take a breath and take a break. Come back when you are ready to fully enjoy the writing experience. Trust me, it makes a world of difference.
I hope these tips have been helpful. I am constantly learning as I go. In my next post, I will discuss some do's and don'ts that I have learned in the process. Till next time, happy creating!