The Writing Process: Quick Tips To Keep You Encouraged

ERIN N. SIMON

Inspired, In-Spirit Publishing

The Writing Process: Quick Tips To Keep You Encouraged

The writing process can be a mystery to some people. Inspired, In-Spirit Publishing is here to keep you encouraged in your writing endeavors. We want to share whatever suggestions and hacks, we have available.

Consistency: You'll notice in many of our articles, consistency is often mentioned. It's necessary in a world full of distractions and obligations. Some people are able to plan when they will write. There are a ton of apps that can assist with reminders and helping you to be consistent. Sometimes this can be difficult because writers block or obligations can interfere with you working on your manuscripts. Try to make it a goal to work at least 3 times a week.

Here's the thing. When you are employed, you make your deadlines. You don't allow excuses to prevent you from handing in deliverables to your employer. You'd lose your job if you were inconsistent and unreliable. If you can be that dedicated towards someone else's vision and mission, why can't you focus that reliability on yourself?

-Review your work: take notes on any ideas that come to mind, even if they fail to work out.

-Plan your cover: What graphics do you envision on your cover? Color of the background? What does the back cover say? Does the wording intrigue the reader enough to purchase?

-Write a synopses of your story: This is a short, clear, concise summary of your story. Try to sum up each chapter in a paragraph. This exercise challenges you to concise writing.

-Work on character development: You know what your character looks like, but how does you character respond and react to the challenges presented? How do they interact with other characters? What do they sound like? Dialogue is essential to character development.

-Work on Dialogue: Dialogue is relevant information that is being revealed to the reader. Capture the emotion. Perform dialogue out loud to ensure the proper response, reaction, emotion. Is it flat? Is it boring? Does it drive the story? Is the dialogue consistent with character profile? (i.e., Does your alpha male sound like a wimp? Does your witty character sound too serious?).

-Iron out your main plot: Consciously review your main plot. Is there anything missing? Does it make sense?

-Work on your subplots: Are your subplots all tied up? Do they help the story flow? Are they relevant to the story? Try not to leave your reader with too many questions

-Work on your settings: Are they relevant to the story? Are they consistent with character development? (i.e. you have impoverished setting, your character most likely will not be happy and content. They will experience stress, anxiety, and other emotions that impact their decisions and interactions with others). What time are you writing in? Is it the past, present, future? Is your writing consistent with this time? Is it well articulated to the reader? What does this time/place look like?

-Work on your author biography: What will you say about yourself? How will you word it? What would you like to see on your author bio? Do you have an author picture?

-Research & Take Notes: Non fiction writers, especially should research and take plenty of notes. Make sure you cite your sources! As a writer, you will quickly find how important it is to receive credit for your hard work. Ensure others get that respect as well. Fiction writers also may need to do research. If you are writing during the Victorian era, the Renaissance, The Civil War, you may want your setting to be as realistic as possible. Proper research ensures your success. Keep all of you notes in one place and easily accessible. It will reduce frustration when inspiration hits. OneNote is a great app to keep your organized!

The goal in the initial draft is to finish it. Be consistent with this method and eventually, your story should be completed.

Re-view

Re-read

Re-vision

Re-write

Repeat, until your manuscript is complete!

Keep an eye out for my YouTube videos, which can be found on the Petite Dialogues Tab of my website. They can also be found on my YouTube page, Inspired, In-Spirit Publishing. Please share and subscribe!

I believe in you!

ERIN N. SIMON

Inspired, In-Spirit Publishing

ERIN N. SIMON is a writer, blogger, and visionary in raising the conscious level within her Community. One of her passions is to create a Black Media that truly matters, is promotable, and shared with as many people as possible. In 2013, She and her husband started Inspired, In-Spirit Ministries where they have a real estate arm in Detroit, Michigan. They have recently started a Publishing Company called Inspired, In-Spirit Publishing which have four published books on their shelves: In September of 2013, her first book within a series, Interruption: Shae's Search was published; followed up in May 2014 by the sequel, Interruption: Interlude; the series finale, Interruption: Alter Ego, was published August 2015; Under Cover & Under The Covers: Starring Detective Aja Anderson, published December 2016

Her husband has a company known as GS Investments in which financial freedom is gained one investment at a time. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and four handsome sons...