How do I just let go and write?

Question

I know there's a novel in me, but I can't spit it out! Please help.

Answer 1

Set a timer. Pick your amount of time. Make it a small interval- like 5 minutes. Tell yourself at the end of this 5 minutes I will have the main character sketch outlined. Brainstorm freely. Turn off your inner editor. Don't worry about spelling, punctuation, or grammar.

Set the timer again. In the next interval, freely brainstorm your next character. Repeat until all your important characters are sketched.

Set the timer again. You'll probably need a longer interval. Brainstorm your plot - keep the inner editor OFF. No one will see this.

Pick a time each day, and set the timer. Do this each day until your novel is written.

This is just one suggestion. Timed writing really helps me meet my goals. Other techniques may work for you. Good luck!!

Answer 2

Discipline is the only answer. Every day, including Sat's and Sundays, at the same time you should sit with a pencil and some paper. Or in front of your word processor but I don't recommend it because it takes some of your inspiration off.
No noise, no visual distractions. No music.
The next day, you start by proofreading what you wrote just before. If you don't like it throw it away and start again. If you like it ask yourself the questions: 1. would this be attractive to a reader ? and 2. how can-I still improve it ?
Don't forget: a poem is a love story; a novel is a long marriage.

Answer 3

Try using some writer's prompts. Search on "writing prompts" if you don't like the ones I've included below.

Prompts are starting sentences or scene ideas or any sort of idea sparking thing that gets you warmed up.

Warming up helps a lot of writers. You start with a prompt or an excercise (like writing a haiku or a one-sentence description of your day) when you sit down. It gets you into the writing mood.

Then, after a few minutes of warming up, you shift over to working on your short stories or novels or what-have-you.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I hate it when this happens. :P

Do this. I know you've got some exciting scene already in your mind. Just start by writing that. You'll find that as your're writing that, you'll get more ideas for what happens after that.

And while you're speeding along, you'll start to think of what to write that leads up to that scene. That tends to work for me anyway. I just have to get over the beginning hump and I'm off. ;P

Or you could try just speed writing. I do this sometimes to. Everything you write doesn't have to be novel material. Just quickly jot down scenes in very simple writing, plotting out the story, characters, ect. Soon you'll be struck with just the right words and you'll be able to write something in full detail. Hope this helps, this how I get my mind warmed up. :P

Answer 5

just sit down and start writing about anything. Look around you and write down what you see. It could be a list, like, lamp, chair, tv, and then you start to think about setting and characters. You could go to a public place and just observe people and their actions. Notice people's habits for character inspiration and development.

Answer 6

I used to be a fairly good writer when i was in high school .. as i tended to be more emotional rather than practical as i am now ...

I used to use transferance of emotion ... and that use to allow me to write ...


If i was upset about breaking up with a boyfriend... I would transfer that emotion onto something else .. I would create characters that would use that transfered engery ...

it's hard to explain HOW it worked BUT it did and i won several writing competitions doing it that way ...

Answer 7

Just lock yourself in a room away from everyone and everything, put on some meditation music or turn on a sink, just a little bit and just let go.

Answer 8

you got to write, start with nothing, start with writing about how you can't write. but the more you write the easier it will come

Answer 9

You need to learn about CREATIVE WRITING...Some universities also offer it as a course.