How do you find the time to write?  This is a question that I am often asked.  The answer is simple really: if you want to do something enough then you find the time.  Everyone has a different approach to writing but, whatever that is, you need to stick to it.  A set regime, be it strict or lax, is necessary, otherwise there are always things that will get in your way.  The worst thief of your time these days is the internet and in particular social networking.  I can be typing away merrily, involved in my new character, when 'ping', a message has arrived in my mailbox from Twitter or someone on Facebook wants to tell me about their day.  I could ignore it, and sometimes I do, but out of the corner of my eye I can see the number of unanswered emails incrementing steadily.  In the end I usually cave in and open my mailbox.  Then there is the temptation of a cup of coffee.  I have even been known, when things were not going well, to abandon my writing and do the ironing instead.

In order to minimise the distractions, I set myself specific times for writing.  As I am a morning person I like to write from ten until two, four hours a day minimum.  This leaves me a couple of hours beforehand to check emails, walk the dogs and get any other little jobs out of the way.  If things are going well, or sometimes if they are going badly, I also work for a couple of hours in the late afternoon; this is when I review what I have written, checking punctuation, grammar, context etc.  Sometimes I print out my morning's work so that I can see it on paper; it's easier to pick up the mistakes that way.  

Some writers calculate their output by time: Ann Victoria Roberts, author of The Master's Tale, writes from ten until six, a full day's work; J G Harlond, author of the historical novel, The Chosen Man, has this to say about how she tackles her work:
So it all comes down to the individual and what's comfortable for you.  Some people just write and write, regardless of punctuation and grammar, until they have the whole book in a draft form; then they edit it.  Others, like me, like to edit as they go along.  It is just a question of preference.  What matters is that it is done and that the finished book fulfils your objectives.  

The editing and reviewing process is very important, too important to be left to an editor.  The author must remain in control of the story because only they know where the story is leading.  A good editor, however, can help the writer to see the wood amongst a forest of trees, help them clarify their objectives.  Here are some of the questions that writers need to ask when editing their work:
'What is the book trying to achieve?'
'Who are your readers?'
'Is the genre of the book clear?  Does it sit comfortably in that genre?'
'Is the language appropriate for the designated reader?'
'Who is telling the story?'

Choose your preferred writing style and stick to it.  Plan your work and make yourself a writing schedule.  You will be amazed at what you can achieve.

Do you have a story to tell?

Have you lived through events that ought to be recorded?

Is there something – fact or fiction – you would like to write for future generations or for your family?

Do you know someone else whose story should be told?

This October J.G. Harlond  and I will be running the second of our Memory Keepers’ Workshops at the beautiful LA FINCA DEL NIÑO in the Spanish countryside, just outside Málaga.  So why not come along and join us.  We can guarantee good food, lovely surroundings and the chance to write up all those stories that you have been planning to pass on to your kids.

The Memory Keepers’ Workshop is a writing holiday designed for beginners, and writers with work-in-progress. Our objective is to help participants develop their writing skills and show them, if required, how to plan and set out a manuscript for publication. It is specifically geared towards people wanting to write about the past, be it an account of real events, an autobiography, biography or historical fiction. Groups are kept to a maximum of twelve, so each participant has time to discuss their work with us and receive personal feedback.

If this is something you have always wanted to do, then get in touch with us on:

http://www.jgharlond.name/brochure1.htm or www.fincanino.com or send me a message through my contacts page.