How to Write a Book

Day 11: Reward yourself.

It's Day 11 and I'm now on the "other side" of this 20-day adventure writing an entire book (1st draft) by June 1.

As you write your book, if you face distractions that easily pull you away from your computer, schedule rewards for yourself. Tell yourself:

"Finish this chapter and then you can check Twitter or Facebook."

"As soon as you edit this next section, there's dark chocolate waiting for you."

"Work on this part you've been dreading and then you can take a walk."

Use those distractions as rewards. Turn lemons into lemonade.

 

Day 10: Back up

Welcome to Day 10--half-way through my 20-day escapade of writing the first draft of a book by June 1.

Today's tip will be short because it's Saturday and I've already spent 6 hours writing (not to mention how long it took me to get that goat to stand still for the camera).

Here it is: Back up what you've written.

Very simple to do. Very devastating if you don't.

You've probably experienced the horror of writing for half an hour when something goes wrong and you lose every golden word because you didn't save your document. How much worse to lose an entire book because you didn't back it all up?

I use a Passport external hard-drive. It's a few years old and doesn't have automatic back-up capabilities like newer models so when I'm working on a book, I back it up every night. Sometimes I even carry the hard drive with me when I leave the office. (No sense leaving the back-up and your laptop in the same room.)

You can also subscribe to online back-up services that let you upload everything that's on your computer. Personally I don't like having all my information on the cloud and prefer for security reasons to keep it close to me, but that's just me. Plenty of people use these services.

You can also back up to a memory stick or flash card, but don't do that on a permanent basis. They're not designed to last forever. Plus you can easily drop them or lose them.

The exact back-up device you use doesn't matter. What does matter is backing up. Please do it.

What's your back-up procedure? What works for you? Share it with the rest of us in a comment.

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If you know what this picture is and why it's posted today, tell me in a comment. No prize; just incredible worldwide fame and glory for being right.

 

 

Day 9: Got info? Got too much info?

It's Day 9 of my 20-day book-writing marathon--almost halfway through! I'm a few chapters behind on my goal, but hope to catch up this weekend.

Today's tip: How I go from "too much info to "just the right amount."

If you're like most people trying to write a book, you have more information than you can possibly cram into 1 book. How do you cut it down to size--and know what to include and what to leave out?

Here's how I'm doing it for this book.

It started on Day 1 when I figured out I needed about 1,400 words per chapter. So for each chapter I write, I go through the same procedure:

1. I read the material the author provided for that chapter.

I do this on my computer not on paper. Whenever I come across something I might want to include in this chapter, I use the highlighting tool and mark it in bright yellow.

2. I copy and paste.

I copy each highlighted section (select it, then Control + C) and paste it (Control + V) into my main book document. This is why you want to highlight on your computer, not on paper. I continue going back and forth, copying everything I've highlighted and pasting it into my book doc.

When I finish, I use the style feature I told you about on Day 3 and put everything I just pasted into the style I set up called "body text." I also get rid of all the yellow highlighting because I don't need it anymore.

3. I figure out the word count of what I just pasted.

I select what I just pasted and look in the lower left of my document to see how many words it is. I might have started with 9,000 words in the original material for that chapter and highlighted 3,700 words. Of course, I need only 1,400 words; I thought I was being ruthless in cutting it down, but apparently not!

4. I read what I just pasted and start writing that chapter.

As I read it all, I organize everything based on what I know that chapter should say. As I write, I'm trying to get it to 1,400 words. It may take a couple of tries.

5. I leave it and go on to the next chapter.

Once I get it near 1,400 words, I stop editing. As you know from Day 4, I don't spend time tweaking and rewriting at this stage. It's time to move on to the next chapter and repeat the procedure.

Eventually I'll have all 28 chapters written like this--and THEN I'll be able to edit them all together as 1 book.

More tips tomorrow when I'll be halfway through my 20-day book-writing marathon! Woo hoo!

 

Day 8: Make the time

It's Day 8 in my 20-day adventure of writing the first draft of a complete book by June 1--and sharing a tip a day with you to help you write your book.

Have you noticed that none of my tips for the past 8 days has anything to do with writing?

That’s because writing is the easiest part of writing a book. You’re already a good writer. That’s not the challenge. Getting you to sit down and write is the challenge! And to keep on writing until you’re done.

Right?

This is my day job, so it's a little easier for me than it might be for you if you're trying to tack on  book writing at the end of an already busy day. But I have other clients and other work to do, so I still have to schedule my book-writing time AHEAD of time--and then stick to it. I have to set aside blocks of time or the writing won't get done.

I know you're not sitting around eating bonbons and looking for something to do. Your schedule is already very full. So if you're waiting for a time to somehow appear when you can write your book, like a 25th hour in the day, it's not gonna happen.

You will have to give up something else in order to make the time. Notice I didn't say "find the time" because there's no more time to be found. You might have to get up an hour earlier. Or go to sleep an hour later.

If you're frustrated that half the year is almost gone and you still haven't worked on your book, look at your calendar for this weekend and choose 1 hour when you can work on your book. I'm not asking for 8 hours. Just 1 little ol' hour.

Put it on your calendar right now. And just know that absolutely everything will come against you to steal away that hour.

But be ruthless to keep that appointment with yourself! You are worth it. You can do it!

 

Day 7: Move it!

It's Day 7 of my 20-day book-writing adventure.

So this morning I walked into my fitness class and 2 people asked how many socks I washed today.

I'm glad someone is reading this!

And that's my tip for you today. No, not sock washing but keeping up with your fitness program (you do have one, right?) while you're writing. It will keep you sane and keep you from gaining 10 pounds by the time your book is published.

My fitness instructor is also one of my book-coaching clients--Bethanne Weiss, founder of FUNIQ Fitness. She's writing a book called Move Your Assets: From the chair not the bank! If I've heard her say it once, I've heard her say a hundred times that sitting is a disease. In fact, moving more can actually save your brain.

The only problem is, when you're a writer, you sit a lot. And when you're writing a book, you sit an AWFUL LOT. I used to type standing up (really), but can't do an entire book that way.

So while I'm on this marathon, I make sure I go to Bethanne's FUNIQ classes 3 times a week. (In the 3 years since I've been going, I have more energy than ever, am healthier than ever, AND I lost 2 sizes, but that's another book--oh yeah, Bethanne is writing that one!)

If you're writing a book, you'll sit a lot, too, so make sure you get up and move. Keep up with your fitness regime. Take a walk when you're low on creativity; it gets the blood flowing. And use something like Breakpal to remind you to move; I have it on my laptop and every 30 minutes it tells me to get up and do one of their great exercises.

I'd love to blog more, but American Idol's semi-finals are on in 51 minutes and I have to finish up another chapter before I click the remote. See you tomorrow!

 

Day 6: Don't wash socks.

Today is Day 6 of my 20-day marathon to write a book by June 1.

When you've barely begun the book-writing process and there's more in front of you than behind you, it's very, very tempting to give in to distractions.

So far you've managed to ignore that annoying Mr. Self Critic, but at this still-early point in your book-writing adventure, there's something else that can lure you from the keyboard: distractions.

When I started freelancing in Washington DC years ago, one of my first clients (who also freelanced) and I would always joke about the excuses we'd find to stop writing.  

My major distraction was hand-washing socks. Don't ask me why. If I was tired of typing, socks would start calling my name and it wouldn't be long before I'd have a sink full of suds. (It didn't help to machine wash them; that would be too quick.)

I can't remember Dudley's distraction but it was something equally critical to the future of the western world as we know it.

Today is a gorgeous day in Florida and the weather itself is a distraction. There's some dark chocolate in the other room. And wasn't I going to make that phone call I've been putting off?

But I'm ignoring their luring calls, just like I'm resisting Mr. You-Know-Who. I haven't washed a pair of socks all day.

Feel free to confess your distractions in a comment. It helps to unload. And recognizing your distractions is the first step to ignoring them when they call your name.

After all, you have a book to write, just like me.

 

Day 5: What's the big idea?

I'm on Day 5 of my 20-day adventure of writing an entire book by June 1--and sharing tips with you about how I'm doing it to help you write your book.

My client is incredibly organized or there's no way I could do this in 20 days. He already knew what he wanted to say, had his elevator statement (a 1-sentence description), a list of objectives, and even a 1-page summary of the entire book (which I'll use to write the back cover).

In other words, he knew what his big idea was.

That really is helping me take all the material he's sending me (28 transcripts totalling around 250,000 words) and boiling them down to a 45,000-word book. Because I have his objectives and elevator statement--the big idea--I know what to cut and what to keep.

I've been working with authors for many years and I've never once heard someone say, "I want to write a book but I don't know what to say" or "I don't think I'll have enough to say."

It's always the opposite: "I have so much to say that I don't know how to squeeze it all into this book."

If you're writing a book, I strongly recommend you start with your big idea: an elevator statement and objectives. You won't write them in one minute. Or even one day. Consider them a work in progress.

If you need more info on how to do that, my e-book (called, cleverly enough, How to Write a Book) can help.

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Be sure to leave your questions in a comment. I'm answering them as you post them.

 

Day 4: Just write it! (But don't read it.)

It's Day 4 of my 20-day marathon to write a book (and blog about it at the same time).

Here's another tip to help you write your book (whether in 20 days or 20 weeks).

My 4th-grade English teacher was way ahead of Nike. She told us "Just write it" long before Nike came up with "Just do it."

My goal right now in these early days is to get something--ANYTHING--down on paper. That's why this stage is "Just write it." 

I force myself to write a complete first draft WITHOUT going back and editing or even reading what I've already written.

That's how I'm able to tear through 2 chapters a day.

I just finished the 8th chapter and I have no idea what condition the previous 7 are in because I haven't looked at them since I wrote them. There will be plenty of time for that. In fact the schedule I set up on Day 1 includes 4 days for editing.

Remember on Day 1 how I focused on left-brain stuff like setting up a schedule and my template? Now I'm in right-brain mode doing the writing--and the last thing I want is Mr. Self-Critic trying to distract me with comments like, "Shouldn't that be a semi-colon? Didn't you already use that word 3 times? Maybe you should run spell-check on that last paragraph. That margin looks a little wierd."

Mr. Self-Critic will never stop talking--but I don't have to answer him. I just ignore him and keep on click-click-clicking away.

I've written 11,000 words in 4 days. Let him criticize that!

 

Day 3: Tool time

It's Day 3 of my adventure of writing a 45,000-word book in 20 days. I finished 2 more chapters a few minutes ago, so it's time to share another tip with you.

Whatever word processing program you use, there are amazing power tools at the tip of your fingers that will help you stay organized and sane.

Here are the ones I use regularly when writing a book:

Outline view

At the bottom right of your word processing document, you'll see a bunch of little icons. We usually type in "print layout," the first icon, but it's great to set up long docs in "outline view." You set levels for different copy blocks -- eg chapter heads might be level 1; subheads, level 2; everything else, body text.

It takes a bit of finagling to set it up, but once you've done it you can easily reorder headings and text by moving them up or down or anywhere you want. You can "collapse" your document so that you see only the headings or chapter heads.

And outline view lets you quickly set up a table of contents with page numbers that keep updating as you type.

For how-to help, see Create an Outline From Scratch. That's for a PC; if you have a link for Mac instructions, please leave it as a comment and I'll add here. 

Styles

Most of your document should be typed in plain old boring Times Roman 12. Please, so curly fonts or crazy colors.

But you may want a different font or size for your chapter titles and subheads.  Or you may want different margins for indented text (like long quotes).

You can easily do this once for the entire document by setting up "styles." That way, they'll all be uniform. If you decide to change a point size or indent, you just change it once instead of everywhere it appears in your book.

For how-to help, see Format Your Document with Styles. If you have a Mac link, please leave it as a comment and I'll add it here.

What power tools do you use when you're writing a book? Let us know in a comment!

 

Day 2: Fill in the blanks

I'm on Day 2 of my quest to write a 45,000-word book in just 20 days--and share tips along the way to help you write your book.

A few notes before I tell you today's tip:

First, this is a non-fiction book. There are some fiction writers on the planet who can churn out a novel in 20 days, but I'm definitely not one of them. It took me 2-3 years to write Born to Fly and I'm still recovering from the trauma. (Feel better, Valerie??)

Second, I'm writing this book for a client and this is my day job. Maybe you can't devote 5 or 6 hours in the middle of the day to write your book -- but can you find 5 or 6 hours a week to do it? Can you write it in 20 weeks instead of 20 days? Sure you can!

I wrote 2 more chapters today so it's time to share today's tip. It's what I did yesterday before I wrote a single word and it's part of my left-brain get-myself-so-organized-I-can-hardly-stand-it activity:

1. I start with a blank computer document.

2. In that doc, I make separate pages for all the sections and chapters:

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Endorsements
• Foreword
• Dedication
• Table of contents
• Chapters (1 new page for each)
• Contact info
• Endnotes

So what if there are barely any words in the document? Now all I have to do is...

3. Start filling in the blanks.

For example, since the author already sent me his outline for the book and the chapter titles, I immediately filled in the table of contents with those...and then added the titles to each blank chapter page.

I filled in the copyright page, the working title, even the contact info at the back -- anything I already knew so that I could start filling in the blanks.

You'll notice I don't write each chapter as a separate document. That's just more work and more files to flip through. I have 28 chapters so I sure don't want 28 different documents. Just put everything in 1 doc (you'll have to eventually anyway). That way you can scroll through and find what you want, do 1 search and replace instead of 28, etc. etc.

OK, so I spend an obsessive amount of time setting this up...

But it REALLY helps me see what I have to fill in. Suddenly "the book" is not bazillions of pieces of paper on my desk and weeks of emails. "The book" is a nice clean document sitting on my computer screen just waiting to be filled in.

So much of book writing is emotional and mind stuff, so whatever you can do to make the process easier for you, do it.

And please share your tips with the rest of us by leaving a comment. We want to know what works for you -- because maybe it will work for us, too.

 

Day 1: I'm writing a book in 23 days (really!)

Actually, I'm writing it in 20 days since I'm taking a break on Sundays.

Since you want to write a book, too, or you wouldn't be reading this, I'm going to blog about it day by day so you can see exactly how I write the first draft of a book in just 20 days.

Whether you have 20 days or 20 months to write your book, the tips I'll share here will help you.

Day 1: I tell my right brain to be quiet.

Today was Day 1 of writing...but before I wrote a word I had to tell my right brain to be quiet for a few hours.

Instead I kicked my left brain into overdrive, got out a calendar and calculator, and started punching in numbers.

This may sound like an odd way to write a book, but if you just sit down and start writing, how do you know where you're going?

Here's what I know so far:

• I have 23 days before the 1st edit is due (June 1).

• If I want to take off Sundays, that leaves me 20 days to actually write.

• We want 28 chapters + 1 introduction + 3 miscellaneous lists in the back of the book.

• The book will be 45,000 words total.

So that means:

• Each chapter has to be about 1,400 words.

• I have to write 2 chapters a day, leaving me 4 days to edit everything before June 1

Once that left-brained activity was complete, I picked myself up off the floor realizing what the rest of May is going to be like.

Then it was time for Mr. Right Brain again. AKA time to write! 

By 3 pm, I had written 2 chapters.

This is not the first time I've written a book in a short amount of time so I know what I have to do (and not do) to pull it off. I want to share those tips with you during the next 23 days.

If you don't subscribe to this blog, please subscribe now so that you don't miss a tip. Just add your email address to the box in the upper left (or here) and you'll receive my posts in your inbox.

Coming tomorrow: How I developed a template for the book (and how you can develop one for yours). Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss this or any other tips. Just click "get email updates" in the upper left or here.

 

The non-celebrity's guide to getting a children's book published

"If you're like me," says Jon Bard, managing editor of Children's Book Insider (CBI), "at least once a week you discover that some celebrity or another has signed a contract to write a children's book and you think, 'You're kidding me, right? That guy/gal is getting a book deal?'"

Been there, said that. It is frustrating.

But just because Madonna publishes a children's book doesn't mean you can't. The field is still wide open.

CBI has a great e-book on how to get published--and it's completely free. It's called The Non-Celebrity's Guide to Getting a Children's Book Published. You can download it by clicking that link. Once the e-book opens on your screen, right-click on it and save it to your own computer for future reference.

The section on how to write a query letter is particularly helpful. Whenever I teach a writer's workshop or coach an author, I'm always asked, "How do I contact publishers?" This will answer that question for you.

CBI Clubhouse has lots more great info for children's authors and illustrators including a free e-zine, online courses, how-to books, author interview podcasts, etc.  On Twitter you can follow Jon Bard: @Write4Kids_com.

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A few years ago I was at an AIDS orphanage in Zimbabwe. Here are some of the precious kids reading my Adventures With PawPaw children's books:

We also went to the children's cancer ward at a hospital in Harare, the capital city. Here's one of the workers with PawPaw, who loved visiting the kids:

You can learn more about PawPaw on his very own site, www.adventureswithpawpaw.com.

You've officially entered the home stretch.

Attention all writers (that would be you). I have an important announcement to make about you and your book:

You have officially entered the home stretch:

the last quarter of 2010. 

Remember January? If you began 2010 by saying, "This is the year I'm finally going to write that book," you have 3 months to get on it.

You don't have to finish your book by the end of the year, but maybe you need to pick up the pace? Maybe you can write a little more each day?

Chris Brogan, president of New Marketing Labs, a new media marketing agency, posted a great article on how he manages to write at least one blog post a day. It's called The Discipline to Write Daily:

My friend, Frank McMahon, asked me how I was able to write a blog post every day. The mechanics of writing daily are one thing. But it’s the discipline that really catches most people. Let’s talk about the discipline required to write daily.

Here's what Chris requires to write daily:

• Stillness
• A practice mind
• Curiosity
• Framing
• A fall-forward mentality
• Confidence

Chris is talking about writing blog posts every day, but the principles apply to writing a book, too. If you're having trouble working on your book every day, or every week, or ever, I strongly encourage you to read Chris' post. 

Earlier this week I finished writing the 70-page curriculum for The Born2Fly Project to stop child trafficking. It took an entire year to write it (not just me, but a team of people).

Believe me, it was not easy. Just ask my writer's group.

It took turning off the TV.

It took a ton of late nights.

It took countless team meetings and writing meetings.

It took giving up get-togethers with other friends.

It took focus.

It took discipline.

It took a lot out of me.

But it's done. You can finish your book, too. You really can--but it will take discipline.

If you've been to one of my workshops, you know what I always say: You cannot add writing a book to an already busy schedule. You have to give up something else to clear your schedule so that you have time to write.

You can do it.

If I can help coach you to write your book, just let me know. Click here to contact me.

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Born to Fly is sponsoring a 1-day Twitterthon on 10/10/10 for The Born2Fly Project to stop child trafficking. Here's our goal:

Visit my other blog, www.dianascimone.com, for details. Or donate by clicking the orange ChipIn button here:

"How do I sell my book (which I haven't written yet, by the way)?"

Whenever I host a writer's workshop, I tell people that my job is to help them with the first step of their book-publishing adventure. I help them write their book.

When it comes time for Q&A, someone invariably asks, "But how do I sell my book?"

My response: "You can't sell what you haven't written...so write your book already!"

If you insist on knowing how to sell your soon-to-be-written book, trust me that I am not the go-to person for that. You'll notice the title of this blog--and my workshops--is how to write (not sell) your book.

For that info, talk to someone like Chris Brogan who is a New York Times best-selling author. I've gotten to know Chris on Twitter (@ChrisBrogan) and although he has a bazillion followers, he actually responds when you tweet him (hence part of the reason for his success).

Chris compiled a list of 21 ways to use social media to market your book. You can read it here: An Author's Plan for Social Media Efforts.

You will not like this plan. Not one bit. Because it involves a ton of work.  And that's why it works.

When I finally published my Adventures With PawPaw children's book series--after my own 13-year adventure--I realized that publishing the books was the easy part.  Selling them is the hard part.

So read Chris' excellent list, do what he says, and if you waver then follow his caveat at the bottom: It is not the job of your publisher's publicist to sell your book; it is your job.

But before you sell your book, please write it, okay? And if I can help you, let me know.

FAQ about freelance writing

Are you freelance writing while you prepare to publish the Great American Novel (or non-fiction book)?

Then check out the awesome list of dozens of FAQ about freelance writing, posted by Deb Ng on her site, Freelance Writing Jobs Network. 

Here are some of the FAQ that Deb answers:

• How to Land Your First Freelance Writing Job
• 43 Places to Find Freelance Writing Jobs
• 30 Types of Freelance Writing Jobs and How to Get Them
• Top 10 Freelance Writing Job Red Flags
• Set a Freelance Writing Rate Equal to the Task
• 8 Reasons You’re Not Landing the High Paying Freelance Writing Jobs
• Query Letter Writing: Dissecting a Successful Query Letter
• How I Landed My First Freelance Writing Job Without Clips
• What My Neighbor’s Teen Can Teach You About Customer Service
• The Freelance Writers Guide to Blogs and Blogging
• The Freelance Writer’s Guide to Twitter
• The Freelance Writer’s Guide to Facebook
• 45 Free Things for Writers
• 20 Tax Deductions for Freelancers
• And probably 100 more

Deb updates the site with freelance jobs daily and tweets helpful info throughout the day; follow her on Twitter @DebNg and @FreelanceWJ, and be a FWJ fan on Facebook.

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Reminder:  There are a few spots left for this Saturday's Field Trip for Non-Fiction Writers in Orlando. Deets here: Who wants to go on a field trip?

A lot of work (a LOT)

I'm constantly struck by how difficult the writing process is.

I used to think that writers were the only creative types who struggled with their craft. I assumed that artists, for example, would paint their paintings right the first time. Poets would jot a few notes on a page, and voila, a poem. Sculptors would know exactly where to tap the stone and a few days later would end up with a stunning work of art.

Then I became friends with a number of artists and I saw that painting is hard work. They plan; they sketch; they wrestle; they visualize; they research; they start all over again; they work; they work, and they work some more.

Why would I think that's any different from writing?  Because when we see a painting in a museum or hear a fantastic piece of music on the radio, we have no clue about the blood, sweat, and tears that went into producing it.

If you want to write something that's going to last a long time (and who doesn't?), you have to be prepared for a lot of work.  A lot more than you're thinking about right now.

You will get up early. 

You will go to bed late. 

You will miss TV shows, parties, and get-togethers.

You will hibernate from your friends and family. 

You will offend some of them. 

You will devote a lot of time to learning what you don't know.

You will think you are going crazy.

There is no way around that process. But if you know it ahead of time, you won't be surprised by how much work is required--and you won't be tempted to stop or be put off by the process.

I'm currently working on the curriculum that's part of The Born2Fly Project to stop child trafficking, and I'm going through all that and more. I'm on the 7th rewrite (yes, 7th) and frankly I wish it were finished.

And it could have been, but my writer's group won't let me stop rewriting. They know there's a lot more potential in the pages, and they're pushing me to make it the best it can be. I guess I'm grateful. :-)

There's no way around it. Writing is hard work. But like childbirth, once you hold your baby in your hands--your own book with your own name on the cover--you'll forget the pain. It will all be worth it. 

You'll see.

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For more tips on writing, follow me on Twitter: @DianaScimone

Help for those "Help!" moments

If you're trying to write a book, you've probably uttered the word, "Help!" in the past 24 hours.  Or maybe the past 24 seconds.

One of the things that helps me through those "Help!" moments is my writer's group.  We meet semi-regularly, and knowing a meeting is coming up keeps us writing. After all, the hardest part of writing is...writing.  No one wants to come to a meeting and miss the opportunity to share what they've written and get valuable feedback, so there's always a mad scramble of creativity the week before we get together.

One of our unwritten rules is the "sandwich" critique  We're all taking a big step to share our "babies" even among trusted colleagues, and we have to know it's a safe place where no one will tell us not to quit our day job.

So after someone has shared a portion of the latest edit of their masterpiece, we start by piling on as much encouragement and enthusiasm as we can--white bread.  (You can always find something positive to say.)  Next we give our critiques--the meat.  And then we finish with another bit of encouragement--a little more Wonder bread. 

It's a sandwich of two pieces of nice fluffy white bread surrounded by some meat, and is a nice way for fragile artists to share their creative work and feel encouraged, not discouraged, by the process.

You can find more guidelines from Don't Forget to Write!, a book published by the 6' Ferret Writers' Group about building and maintaining a writer's group. (Book information is on their site, www.6ftferrets.com.)

If you google "writer's groups," you'll find lots more information.  (As with anything on the web, chew the meat and spit out the bones.)

We meet in person, although there are many groups that meet by internet.  My group has just 4 writers in it, which I find is a great number. Two is too few, and more than 4 means there's not enough time to really focus on everyone's work.  (We probably devote an excessive amount of time to eating at our meetings, so I suppose if you cut out the food, there would be more time for critique, but food is critical to the creative process!)

So find a few friends who also want to improve their writing skills and set a time for your first meeting.  Even if you think you don't know anything about writing your own work, never mind helping someone else improve theirs, you'll be surprised at how much you can help each other. 

During the time between meetings, study up on your craft, and you'll have even more to share at your next get-together.

You may say, "I'd love to join a writer's group, or start one, but I'm not a writer yet."

My response is, "Have you ever written even one word? A phone message?  A grocery list?  Then you're a writer."  Being published doesn't make you a writer.  It just makes you a published writer.  Years ago, long before I was ever published, I caught myself saying, "I want to be a writer" one too many times.  I started saying, "I'm a writer."  Because I was.  You are too.

If you belong to a writer's group and have some tips about what works (or doesn't) for your meetings, post a comment and share it with the rest of us.

The Hero's Journey (and yours)

"I can't write fiction."

That's what I always said.  In fact, I said it so much, I began to believe it. 

Then 3 years ago I took my 3rd trip to Thailand -- this time to work on a children's book for The B2F Project to stop child trafficking.  And the book had to have a plot. 

What to do?

The first thing was to stop telling myself I couldn't write fiction!

The second was remembering a writing tool that my friend and fellow writer Cindy MacDonald told me about--called the "Hero's Journey." 

This is a classic story structure popularized by Joseph Campbell in his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces and later by Christopher Vogel in The Writer's Journey.

You can find some variation of the Hero's Journey in just about any adventure book or film--Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, Chronicles of Narnia, Charlotte's Web, and more.

When I started applying the 12 steps of the Hero's Journey to my own picture book, within an hour I had the rough outline of my plot. 

If you're faced with (and panicked by) writing fiction, the Hero's Journey might help you, too. Here briefly are the 12 steps; below I'll give you links where you can find more information:

1.  The Ordinary World:  The hero's normal world before the story begins.  It's what he's familiar with--his life up til now.

2.  Call to Adventure:  The hero is presented with a problem or challenge, an event that forces him out, the call.

3.  Refusal of the Call:  The hero refuses the challenge or journey; he's scared, full of doubts, etc.

4.  Meeting with the Mentor:  The hero meets a mentor to gain advice, encouragement, wisdom, and direction for the adventure.

5.  Crossing the First Threshold:  The hero leaves the Ordinary World and goes into the Special World; he takes the first step.

6.  Tests, Allies, and Enemies:  The hero faces tests, meets allies, encounters enemies, and learns the rules of the Special World.  This step shows him who his enemies and friends are.

7.  Approach:  The hero has hit setbacks during the tests, and may need to adjust his approach.

8.  Ordeal:  He faces the biggest life or death crisis.

9.  Seizing the Reward:  The hero has survived death, overcome his fears, and now reaches the goal.

10.  The Road Back:  The hero must return to the Ordinary World to tell others.

11.  Resurrection Hero:  Another test, the final threshold, where the hero faces death on the road back.  He must use everything he's learned to survive this final battle.  There is a transformation in him.

12.  Return with the Elixir:  The hero returns to the Ordinary World from the journey with the lessons learned, and uses them to help everyone in the Ordinary World.  He is able to go back and help his people with what he's learned.

Want more information?

The Hero's Journey

A worksheet to help you spot the Hero's Journey in various movies

Let me know how the Hero's Journey has helped you craft a plot.  You can post a comment on this blog by clicking the link below.

April "How to Write a Book" Writers' Workshop

Author and publisher Kathleen Schubitz of RPJ and Company, Inc., has asked me to teach a 2-hour version of my "How to Write a Book" workshop at her next Gathering for Authors, Writers and Book Lovers.

And since I can't resist the opportunity to help people find the book inside them, of course I said yes!

I hope you can join us in Florida on Saturday, April 24.  Reserve your spot today online or by mail.

The first hour of Kathleen's event is free and you can come to that without attending my workshop.  You can learn computer skills for writing and effective communication, tips for publishing, and more.

Details on these back-to-back events are below. Hope to see you at one or both of them!

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How to Write a Book
Florida writer's workshop

with writer's coach Diana Scimone

7 practical steps to help you write the book
you've always dreamed of writing

Saturday, April 24, 2010
2:00 - 4:00 pm
$30 advance
(Come early for the free writers event! See below.)

Casselberry Library
215 North Oxford Road
Casselberry, FL 32707
map/directions

For writers and budding writers,
fiction and non-fiction, adult & children's books.

Register here via credit card or PayPal.
Or mail check payable to "Peapod Publishing, Inc.," PO Box 951599, Lake Mary, FL 32795-1599.

If you've always wanted to write a book but didn't know where to begin, this workshop is for you! In 2 valuable hours, you'll learn practical insights that will help you:

• Move your book from dream to reality
• Overcome the pitfalls every writer faces (beginners & pros)
• Organize your thoughts and research
• Plan what to include in your book (and what to leave out)
• Fit book-writing into your already busy schedule
• Motivate yourself to keep moving forward

I've helped writers all over the world write the books that are inside them -- and I want to help you do the same.

Here's what people said after recent workshops. Remember, none of them has ever written a book before.

"This workshop was immensely helpful because it took [my] concept and made me understand the next steps I need to take."

"I found the checklist of 7 steps very helpful."

"Very interactive and informative...and lots of fun."

"Diana was amazing. She really connected with us."

"Helped me start the process [of moving] from 'vague idea' to 'real story.'"

"The information was very helpful [as was] Diana's no-nonsense enthusiasm."

"It assisted me with organizing my thoughts into an organized plan."

"You encouraged and inspired me."

"This was my first writer's event. It was so informative and encouraging. I wish it had been all day!"

This workshop is practical and encouraging and will give you the tools you need to find the book inside you and put it on paper.

Limited seating. Register today here via PayPal or credit card. Or mail your check payable to "Peapod Publishing, Inc.," PO Box 951599, Lake Mary FL 32795-1599 (include name, address, phone, and email). Questions? diana (at) peapodpublishing (dot) com

You really can write the book you've always dreamed of writing!

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Gathering for Authors, Writers and Book Lovers
FREE Monthly Event - Open to the Public

4th Saturday every month

1:00 - 2:00 pm

Casselberry Library
215 North Oxford Road
Casselberry, FL 32707
near side entrance of Library
407.665.1500 or 407.551.0734
map/directions

MEET & GREET new Authors. Books will be on display.
FREE books and other printed materials will be available.
Learn computer skills for writing and effective communication,
tips for publishing and more.

Bring a cold lunch, covered drink, questions, a notebook, and a friend.

Sponsored by RPJ & Company, Inc.
Kathleen Schubitz
www.rpjandco.com
Kathy@rpjandco.com

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Hope to see you at both these back-to-back writers' events!

Two don'ts and one do

So how's that book coming?  You know, the one you promised yourself way back on January 1 that you'd write in 2010?

No guilt, no pressure, but just a reminder that the year is officially 1/4 over.

You don't have to finish your book in 2010, but wouldn't you like to start it?  Here's a painless way to begin--two don'ts and one do:

Don't just sit down and begin writing chapter 1. 

That's the surest way to never finish.  How can you write your book when you don't know what to say--or how you're going to say it?  You may be bubbling over with info, but please do not just sit down and start writing.  Trust me on this.

Do brainstorm.

Grab a piece of paper or a blank document on your computer--and start brainstorming.  Make a list of everything you'd like to cover in your book. Every thought, every quote, every example, every topic. Make it as long as you like.  Spend a couple of weeks on it.

Don't edit your list. 

Don't hit the delete button or erase a thing.  You're just brainstorming and you have to allow your brain the liberty to think without restraints.  Leave the self-critic outside the room. There will be plenty of time to edit your list later.

If you can do that one step, you'll be on your way to writing your book.  Meanwhile, if you need help, direction, and focus, I have two tools for you:

   1. How to Write a Book
   2. Personalized one-on-one writer's coaching

So what's kept you from writing your book?  The more we can understand the blocks to writing, the more we can overcome them.  Let the rest of us know the writer's blocks you face--and how you overcome them. Just click "comments" below.

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Want more info on how to compile a brainstorm list for your book -- and how to use that to build a blueprint to make your book a winner? 

I'll teach classes on these helpful steps this spring and summer in Florida and elsewhere.  If you're interested in attending or want me to teach a workshop in your city, let me know and I'll send you all the deets: diana (at) peapodpublishing (dot) com.

Tip: Make an Appointment With Yourself

Week after week (or year after year), you promise yourself you’re going to start working on your book.

But the end of the week (or year) rolls around and everything else on your agenda took priority. 

Sound familiar? 

That’s why it’s essential that you make an appointment with yourself to work on your book. On Monday morning, or whenever you schedule your week’s activities, block out a specific time slot when you’ll do nothing but work on your book.

• Don’t be too ambitious in the amount of time you set aside.  Start with an hour. (As you become more disciplined, you can increase the time.)

• Have a specific goal to accomplish during that hour. Whether it’s working on your elevator statement, writing your objectives, or researching a portion of a chapter, make it specific—something you can complete in one hour.

• Schedule your appointment for your most productive time, whether it’s morning, evening, or the middle of the night.

• Think about where your appointment will take place. If interruptions at work or home are a constant distraction, go to a neighborhood café or the library.

• Anticipate obstacles. As your appointment nears, there will be many reasons not to keep it. (Ask me how I know.) Be prepared—and be tough!

Writing a book is hard work and you have to approach it as you would any other huge task:  small bites at a time. 

Don't forget: If you live in Florida (or want to drop by for a weekend), I'm teaching a writer's workshop in early January. More details here.

2nd Annual International Plot Writing Month

Plot whisperer Martha Alderson is at it again--helping you plot your novel as painlessly as possible.

Martha just launched her 2nd Annual International Plot Writing Month.  For the next 31 days, she'll post tips and tricks to help you craft the plot of your novel. 

These are really valuable pointers that can help experienced and beginning writers alike.

Find it all here:  http://plotwhisperer.blogspot.com

Are You Plodding Through Writing a Plot?

My writer's group regularly sings the praises of Martha Alderson, author of Blockbuster Plots: Pure and Simple. 

To be honest, sometimes we wish we never heard Martha's name because her exercises in helping you write a decent plot can be absolutely painful--but the finished product is oh-so-much better.  So we still love you, Martha!

 Here's what Martha wrote in her recent e-zine, which she's given permission to reprint here:

Everyone wants a sense of power over their own lives. I dedicate myself to giving you control over the plot and structure of your writing and to embolden you on your passionate pursuit of finishing your story.

Plot turns manageable when you grasp the basics of action, character, theme.

Whether you like to work out the elements of your story on the page or are a pre-plotter, everyone benefits from a bit of periodic organization.

See how many of the key scenes you can identify in the story you're imagining, writing, or perfecting:

1. Set-up: The set-up you create in the Beginning makes the journey the protagonist undertakes in the Middle feel inevitable.

2. Inciting Incident: A moment, conflict, dilemma, loss, fear, etc. that forces the protagonist to take immediate action.

3. End of the Beginning: The protagonist's goal shifts or takes on greater meaning and turns the story in a new direction, launching the character into the actual story world itself.

4. Halfway Point: The moment the protagonist consciously makes a total commitment to achieving her goal and does something that signifies she has burned all bridges back and thus can only go forward.

5. Crisis: The all-is-lost moment.

6. Climax: Just as it looks as if all is permanently lost for the protagonist, she saves the day.

(Reprinted with permission from "Martha Alderson's Blockbuster Plots for Writers Plot Tips e-zine." Subscribe at http://www.blockbusterplots.com/contact.html.

That kind of step-by-step plotting really helped me write the storyline for Born to Fly, the book that is the centerpiece of The B2F Project to stop child trafficking. 

Keep in mind when I started writing the book, I had never written a plot in my life.  (Yes, I'd published 3 children's books, but they had no plot!)

If you need help with your plot, study those 6 points.  Then I encourage you to subscribe to Martha's free Plot Tips e-zine and to purchase her book.  (I don't get a commission; I'm just recommending it because it helped me.)

I can't wait to read what you write.

Tip: Make an Appointment With Yourself

You start out Monday morning with enthusiastic plans to work on your book. Yup, this is the week you’re going to do it! 

But when Friday afternoon rolls around, another week has gone by and you haven’t touched your book. That pattern will continue—unless you do something to break it. 

Here’s how:

Right now, grab your calendar and make an appointment with yourself. Don’t wait until Monday to schedule it; do it right now. Choose a one-hour slot sometime during the next week, and write it on your calendar. Just one hour.

Don’t be too lofty and set aside an entire day; if you can successfully complete one hour, you can increase it next time. 

Now be prepared, because you'll have plenty of opportunities to miss that appointment.

The phone will ring.

The cat will need attention. 

Your socks will need darning.

You’ll think of a hundred more pressing issues—so be determined to keep that appointment.

When Friday afternoon rolls around, you’ll be happy you did—and you’ll be that much closer to completing your book. (While you’re celebrating your accomplishments, be sure to set your appointment for the following week.)

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Remember, you can subscribe to How to Write a Book (it's free!) and get every post in your email box.  Just click on "Get email updates" in the upper right.

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"The book borrower...proves himself to be an inveterate collector of books not so much by the fervor with which he guards his borrowed treasures...as by his failure to read these books" (Walter Benjamin, Unpacking My Library, 1931).