Before you begin writing: Page One

 

I admit, I have no idea if Terry Pratchett really did say this, but the quote still became a ‘game changer’ for me, and that’s why I like to remind other people about the same thing.

At times we tend to be our own worst critic, and for the most part I will argue that it’s a good thing when it comes to writing. It makes sure that we get the details right. That no plothole gets to see the light of day, and it helps to not stay still, but evolve.

That said, you should never let it stop you either, and that’s where it can get tricky for some. 

It did for me too there for a while. Writers aren’t always the most confident people. And though we are good with the details, some of us tend to focus more on what lacks than what works.

If that sounds like you then don’t worry. You really aren’t alone. Some of the greatest writers still feels just like you do.

If it doesn’t sound like you, then good for you. Must be nice…

When I came across this quote I had been writing on the prologue for DoE for a few weeks. And damn, did that take forever!

I was obsessed with it being perfect! Like every little word had to be the right one the first time. I’m not saying every word isn’t important, but the madness does have to end. I’m saying madness because it completely took over for me, and you know what? It wasn’t very productive nor was it that well written either. It became too ‘stiff’.

To be frank it was also exhausting to write like that.  And so, you can say I began to hit a wall. A wall I have hit before on now dead projects.

That’s when I ran into the quote, and it was like it took away all the pressure. Of course I knew it was just me reading it at the time, but some things we know without truly knowing it. 

I stopped thinking too much, and just told the story. Turned out the result improved dramatically. The story moved forward which made it more fun, and the characters began to come alive in a much more natural way.

My point is rather simple. Tell the story, worry later!

When I write a chapter now it pretty much goes like this:

First I write without rereading more than I need to. When I have written it all, I read it out loud to myself. It’s the best way to see if you have forgotten any words, and I try to act out what the characters say and how they say it to see if the dialogue feels natural. After that I leave it. It’s at this point I feel like I need to keep redoing stuff, but I know now that I just make more mistakes if I don’t leave it.

After a night of sleep or maybe even days later, I return to said chapter. Read it again, and add a few things here and there. With fresh eyes the changes tend to be useful. Then I leave it again.

I don’t return until the entire act is done, where I reread it all with breaks of course.

When that is done, I’ve got my first draft of that act. 

I know I know, many will say that’s not a first draft, but to me it is because it’s here I begin to feel that I can show it to someone even though it’s not completely done yet.

So if you are thinking about writing something, or maybe you already are, just remember this so you don’t burn yourself out before the story gets told.

Nothing is so bad it can’t be edited, but you won’t know if it’s bad until it’s written.