I can truly say this site is full of products that will make you WANT to write that book you always talked about. And I can add to the danger by telling you that I teach writing, and I'm willing to share some secrets every writer should know. 

Yes. I am. 

First, you must find time to write--and if you read the last posts, you know that finding time to do something depends upon the importance you give the project. So, do you really, really want to write that book (memoire, journal, biogaphy of your great granny) or are you just teasing yourself because you have great tales flashing through your brain? Hmmmm...

I have watched people walk into one of my classes with a 'sort-of' idea, having lost enthusiasm, and with low expectations. Then, during the exercises I give in class, they suddenly light up. They realize they've had this talent all along, and the excuses they've been making were all about their fear of not measuring up. 

Shame on you.

You know that notebook (journal, Moleskin, newsprint, graph paper...) you bought with the intention of drafting your first book? It's calling to you even now. Empty pages begging for your words to come blazing down onto those surfaces. Can't find a pen? I have about 500 of them. Take a look when you're finished reading. But first--you need to know secret number 1: The first draft is supposed to be full of mistakes, bad grammar, twisted, run-on sentences, and way too much emotion to be withstood. Yes. The first draft should be a messy business of personal blood-letting and squeals of joy.

That should take some of the pressure off.  

Second, it should be written as you see it happen-- not from page 1 to page 325--just written as it occurs to you. Grab it, don't blab it. Write it down, and then put it into a three ring binder. Nothing inspires like your own words. NOTHING. When you run out of things to write, just put it up on a shelf and wait to be inspired. If nothing happens in a reasonable amount of time, go back and re-read what you wrote. You will want to continue. 

Third--DON'T EDIT. I mean this. Do not ever reconstruct during the first draft process.  Yes, you can tidy up a sentence or the spelling of a word or something simple, but don't rewrite. DON'T REWRITE. I hope you got that message. It's disaster to rewrite when you haven't finished the book. Chapters are built upon previous work, and changing the previous chapters will block the coming chapters. Really. If you must change directions, write it on seperate pages and insert it with a note that it is an alternate direction your characters are taking. Or use another three ring binder.

OK there are several more tips, but go look at pens, or pencils, or even markers. They are inspirational. I will be talking more about what to do in the next post. See you then.