Some writers need to draw a map before
they get started. Others just need an open document and to find a quiet space.
I had a teacher who was a "Go With the Flow" writer and was critical of his
students--like myself--who weren't. I did try the teacher's method and
wrote some of the worst things I've ever put to paper. I now proudly map
out my stories in some way before I get started. I need to have an idea
of where I'm going. Before I start a novel, I now fill a notebook or
computer folder with character bios, outlines, ideas, and anything to help
organize my thoughts. Doing this has made me a more confident writer.
I love to give my
chapters a title. I feel like each chapter is its own little story that
builds together to create the larger novel. Titles aren't my strongest
suit and often get changed multiple times but that's the beauty of the writing
process. It's not final until its bound and published. I've started
to keep a list of my chapter titles so I can get an idea of what titles I've
given to the chapters so that I can see later on what titles are working and
what might need to be changed later on.
This is something
that I've just recently started to do so I'm still working out the kinks with
it, but so far it's helped me to feel more organized when it comes to my
chapter titles. It's such a simple thing to do but saves me a lot of
stress in the editing process.
Great tips!
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