Checklist Part 1
As I stated last week, my goal is to show the process I intend to undertake in the writing of this piece. In doing so, this week, I hope to provide an adequate checklist, if you will, with the steps that I have either done, or will do, in the next couple of weeks. This checklist, for all intent and purposes, is a guide; and could, and should be disregarded for a time, if it proves to be a nuisance to the reader.
1. You write what you read.
In most cases, the genre that you read the most of, is the one that you’ll most likely write in. For example, the genres I read the most of are science fiction, fantasy, horror, classic literature and a touch of philosophy. So the genre I tend to drift towards is sci-fi-fantasy, which encompasses the strange and unusual. At the same time, I attempt to get a point or a lesson, if you will, across to the reader; with the understanding that I will learn the same lesson, over and over, as I prep it to be shown. A point was raised to me recently by Sam, a fellow writer. “What if you don’t read?” My response to this is this, “Then whatever study you undertake that will light your imagination.”
2. Research.
Whenever you strive to undertake a project, research is a necessary step. Not only in the beginning of the project, but also during the project. One key note to remember- if you use a source or quote from it, keep a record of the title, where you retrieved your source and the date. If you have trouble or can’t think of any sources, refer to Step 1.
3. Free Write.
Every morning, before I start working on the novel or the specific project I have planned for the morning, I have a certain schedule or ritual. First I have devotions, which, after reading a chapter, I write down my thoughts in a notebook or journal. This same journal holds my thoughts and ideas throughout the day. After this, I write in a Word Document that I started about two years ago. Every day starts a new page. For example, this morning’s Journal Entry is 710. By the time you read this, I’ll most likely be on 712 or 713. Besides this, there are no rules. Each entry can be as short or as long as I like. Sometimes I add the date, but most of the time I don’t. The only other thing that remains consistent is the adding of ‘Sincerely, Richard Polk’. However, whenever I send something out to someone, I always add my middle initial.
4. Time Management:
I find one of the key points of writing, as well as everything else in one’s daily life, is the dedication needed to set aside time to write, or accomplish tasks one undertakes. For me, the best time to write is in the morning right after work. The time frame usually being about two to three hours.
5. Location.
Two years or three years ago, I was faced with a situation that’d change what I do. Due to financial situations, I was forced to drop out of Valley Forge Christian College. Suddenly, I found I had a lot of time on my hands and, given that the novel that I had been working on had reached a point that it was ready to expand, (at this point I had expected each ‘world’ to be about 20-30 pages, and that I’d have it completed in a few months’ time) as well as it being a new year, new laptop, etc, I decided that if I was to consider myself a writer, than I better start acting like one. Since working at home had proved unsuccessful (falling asleep, cat laying on the laptop while I was writing, etc.), I decided that if I was serious about this, then I’d have to find a coffee shop that had internet connection, that was near where I either lived or worked. As luck would have it, Panera was right across from where I work.
Well dear reader, that about does it for this week. Next week I hope to cover outlines, community, character profiles, what to do when you hit writers’ block or a blank page, etc.
Sincerely,
Richard M Polk
