How I Write {Read. Read. Read.}
Not too long ago I was having a conversation with a friend and fellow writer who was asking me some on how I write and what do I do when I hit a road block. Like any writer, I have my own rituals to help me get into the mood for writing or how I research, etc... I wanted to do one long post, but the more I thought about it, it would be around 2 to 3 thousand words. That is a lot for a blog post...so I hope you don't mind this brief writing series of what makes this writer tick.
Read. Read. Read.
{Before I delve into this any further, know that for each writer it is different. Please don't see this as advice. It is not my job to tell another writer how to do his/her job. Every person has their own way to develop their manuscript. No way is wrong. This is my way and I hope you find it interesting.}
90% of any book you read is research. No matter whether it is a fiction or non-fiction it will be 90% research. There is no sense in trying to write a book if you are not willing to do the reading. Of course I don't recall ever hearing of a writer who did not have a love of books.
This includes book after book of non-fiction that will lead you to another book and so on.It can sound rather mundane to those who aren't familiar with writing, but so many of your who love costuming, period fashion, and even genealogy will find this process normal. But what about for those of you who are not fond of history or cultures?
To be sure you can find scads of information at your fingertips via the world wide web and without a doubt it is one of the most useful resources to writers. However, I can't stress enough that you should read paper books as a source for research in your work in process'. Now here is where the internet comes in handy, whether it is goodreads, amazon, or even barns & noble, you can find countless of non-fiction and fiction dedicated to your subject. You can get them via the internet store or from shops like books a million. However, I don't usually purchase books for their research value. Partially because I'm not sure whether or not the book will even be useful. If it has an "Idiot's Guide to..." or "Something for Dummies," it is safe to say they are well worth the money. Silly title or not, those books are pact full of useful information.
And if you are like me living a budget lifestyle, hoping in your car to go to the nearest book store may seem frivolous. So does plunking your money down on hundred of books that may or may not be helpful You then turn to your local library for assistance. I make weekly trips to the library and have a wonderful, and well used, reproduction musette bag for toting my books to and fro.
Most likely you will make trip after trip to your local library. As I was researching about two key events during the civil war, nurses, and Gen. Lee's Army, I probably checked out every book they had available. I actually lost count after 30. And that is an insignificant number as to how many I've read and researched in regards to WWII. I would say that number has went into the hundreds easily and have lost count years ago.
Many people will think this silly, but one of the best ways to get fantastic information is from children's education books. Not history text books from public schools, non-fiction written for children. They have never steered me wrong in my quest for education on a certain subject and more often than naught do I turn to them first. {Along with the Idiots Guide's and Something for Dummies books.} Don't knock it till you try it.
I begin my research, depending on what I am writing, at least a year to six months before I begin writing. Thankfully my research for the Civil War didn't take as long. However I went twelve years straight on reading books about WWII, the Holocaust, and Nazi Germany since I was nine. Get as many books about your topic and keep reading. You'll find that even as you begin your first draft that you'll find many inaccuracies, don't worry about that just finish your draft and worry about the inaccuracies later.
Expect inaccuracies. And don't feel bad if they are huge plot changing ones. It comes with the territory of being a writer. I can't tell you how many times I've changed characters, plot, scenarios just so I could either use or leave out that vital piece of information for my novel. Don't sweat it, read some more sources and make sure that shocking piece of evidence is actually correct before you go and re-write your entire novel. Been there, done that, and learned from my mistakes.
One more thing, if you have found a vital inaccuracy, please make sure you find more than one research that corroborates with what you found. But most importantly, have fun.
{Before I delve into this any further, know that for each writer it is different. Please don't see this as advice. It is not my job to tell another writer how to do his/her job. Every person has their own way to develop their manuscript. No way is wrong. This is my way and I hope you find it interesting.}
90% of any book you read is research. No matter whether it is a fiction or non-fiction it will be 90% research. There is no sense in trying to write a book if you are not willing to do the reading. Of course I don't recall ever hearing of a writer who did not have a love of books.
This includes book after book of non-fiction that will lead you to another book and so on.It can sound rather mundane to those who aren't familiar with writing, but so many of your who love costuming, period fashion, and even genealogy will find this process normal. But what about for those of you who are not fond of history or cultures?
To be sure you can find scads of information at your fingertips via the world wide web and without a doubt it is one of the most useful resources to writers. However, I can't stress enough that you should read paper books as a source for research in your work in process'. Now here is where the internet comes in handy, whether it is goodreads, amazon, or even barns & noble, you can find countless of non-fiction and fiction dedicated to your subject. You can get them via the internet store or from shops like books a million. However, I don't usually purchase books for their research value. Partially because I'm not sure whether or not the book will even be useful. If it has an "Idiot's Guide to..." or "Something for Dummies," it is safe to say they are well worth the money. Silly title or not, those books are pact full of useful information.
And if you are like me living a budget lifestyle, hoping in your car to go to the nearest book store may seem frivolous. So does plunking your money down on hundred of books that may or may not be helpful You then turn to your local library for assistance. I make weekly trips to the library and have a wonderful, and well used, reproduction musette bag for toting my books to and fro.
Most likely you will make trip after trip to your local library. As I was researching about two key events during the civil war, nurses, and Gen. Lee's Army, I probably checked out every book they had available. I actually lost count after 30. And that is an insignificant number as to how many I've read and researched in regards to WWII. I would say that number has went into the hundreds easily and have lost count years ago.
Many people will think this silly, but one of the best ways to get fantastic information is from children's education books. Not history text books from public schools, non-fiction written for children. They have never steered me wrong in my quest for education on a certain subject and more often than naught do I turn to them first. {Along with the Idiots Guide's and Something for Dummies books.} Don't knock it till you try it.
I begin my research, depending on what I am writing, at least a year to six months before I begin writing. Thankfully my research for the Civil War didn't take as long. However I went twelve years straight on reading books about WWII, the Holocaust, and Nazi Germany since I was nine. Get as many books about your topic and keep reading. You'll find that even as you begin your first draft that you'll find many inaccuracies, don't worry about that just finish your draft and worry about the inaccuracies later.
Expect inaccuracies. And don't feel bad if they are huge plot changing ones. It comes with the territory of being a writer. I can't tell you how many times I've changed characters, plot, scenarios just so I could either use or leave out that vital piece of information for my novel. Don't sweat it, read some more sources and make sure that shocking piece of evidence is actually correct before you go and re-write your entire novel. Been there, done that, and learned from my mistakes.
One more thing, if you have found a vital inaccuracy, please make sure you find more than one research that corroborates with what you found. But most importantly, have fun.
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