MMZ Creates

Write Every Day To Complete First Draft

MMZ — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:13:26 +0000

The most important and, at times, difficult stage for most writers to complete is writing the first draft. This stage must be done in order for you to complete your journey as a published author. You cannot move to the next stage unless you finish the first draft.
The first step to complete the first draft is how much time will you be able to write each day.
Can you set aside at least 15 to 30 minutes a day to write? If your answer is yes, then you are on your way to a first draft. Write more if you can, but no less than 15 minutes. And those of you thinking you will never get it done anytime soon. I will share my favorite quote from Confucious:

“It does not matter how slowly you go, so long as you do not stop.”

I’m taking the very, very long road to finish a novel. You do not need to have the novel done yesterday. Unless you already have a deal with a publisher, you do not need to rush. But don’t hold yourself back if the words are coming one after another. When a steak happens, it is best to keep going with it. When it slows down again, keep writing at least 15 minutes a day.
And to help everyone continue on the journey of writing every day, I created a forum titled Write Each Day. This forum was created to help and encourage people to write every day. Please join the forum and write each day.

Novel Research: The Pitfalls of Excessive Research

MMZ — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:48:14 +0000

Once your have an idea for a novel, the first thing most writers research some elements for their idea. The elements include character traits, setting, background, and many more more elements. The list can become endless. A new writer may become involve in an endless road of knowing all the details. However, any writer can fall into this trap.

One of my biggest and continuing problem is the never ending research. I have been writing for over 4 years now. I never knew how to let go and just write. I have let go many ideas because I could not stop looking into details. Because I never sat and wrote my ideas, those ideas no longer exist. I don’t even remember them. My current work in progress is my best effort of just writing. Only a few hours were involved and most of it involved watching Man vs. Wild. The most important, and I mean the most important, is the writing. Nothing else can compare to just writing the book you want to write.

You do not need to know all the details in every scene. The details will come later once you have written the story. Make a note with your word processor or note to the side if you are handwriting the story. A simple note is all you need. Finish the first draft, and then worry about the fine detail. It is only the first draft. The second draft can have those details you want to have. Don’t let your idea escape because those details over take you.

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Character Names: Searching For The Winning Combo

MMZ — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:54:02 +0000

You have an idea for novel. It looks like a winner. The next step…the main character’s name.

The name search is the first step in bonding with your character. It is a hard to connect when you can not name the character. How can you tell your character’s story with out one? Can you do it? In my personal experience, I know can’t. Even if one idea doesn’t work, I always pull my character into another story line. The bond between character and writer is created the moment you name your character.

When you begin the search, some names will come faster then others. You may even take days to find the one which clicks with your character traits. I tend to search names by meaning, then origin, and finally decide on the spelling. Everyone has their own method of finding the right name. It is up to you to decide the right name, even if the name has been used before. But avoid any really popular character names, unless there is a reason why the character is named ‘Harry Potter’ or ‘Bella Swan.’

Another element a writer must think about is the genre of your novel. Fantasy readers except fantasy oriented names. While another genres are more forgiving on the creative of the character ‘s name. So remember to create a name for your genre but at the same time be true to your character nature. If a normal name works, then use it. If odd and unusual name works, then use it. You are the final judge for any name created for your character.

Look forward to another post on places to search for names.

Stages of The Writing Process: My Business Plan to Becoming A Writer

MMZ — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:49:55 +0000

After reading many books on writing, I’ve put together a plan on how to complete my goal of becoming full fledge writer. As with any plan, you must stick to it or you will fail. This is how harsh the path is to becoming a writer. Any one running a business will tell you need a business plan. My business plan is below. I’ll be posting more details on each step in the next coming weeks. I’m sharing this plan, because I compare writing to exercising. When you exercise with some one else, you are more likely to keep exercising. Sharing your writing with others will keep you writing. And to keep writing is the most important step in this plan. Please leave a comment if you wish to join me.

Stages of The Writing Process

1. Research
2. First Draft
3. First Break
4. Read First Draft
5. Edit the Draft
6. Second Break and Joining a Critique group and Start Critiquing
7. Read the Second Draft
8. Repeat Stage 5 if necessary
9. Ask your Critique Group to read over your Draft
10. Wait for Their Response, Read Their Response, Take Time To Think, and Apply Any Changes
11. Third Break
12. Read Again and Ask Again for Another Critique
13. Repeat Any Necessary Stage
14. Final Draft
15. Research Self Publishing or Traditional Method

At this point the list will be splitting.
Self Publishing
16. Research Different Companies and Another Low Cost Method
17. Research Good Selling Self Published Book and Those Which Didn’t Sale
18. Apply Notes From The Above Step To Your Book
19. Marketing Your Book
20. Sit Back and Wait
21. Success or Failure

Traditional
16. Decide Whether To Use An Agent

If you do decide to go with an Agent:
17. Research Agents
18. Query Letter
19. Waiting Game
20. Read The Contract Before You Sign With The Agent
21. Working With Your Agent and Waiting
22. You Have A Publisher Interested, But Remember the Contract
23. Marketing Your Book
24. Sit Back and Wait
25. Success or Failure

If you choose to go alone:
17. Research Publishers
18. Query Letter
19. Waiting Game
20. Read The Contract Before You Sign With The Publisher
21. Working With Publisher
22. Marketing Your Book
23. Sit Back and Relax
24. Success or Failure

Two Friends To a Writer

MMZ — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:33:58 +0000

Every writer has two friends who will always help them on their journey. These two friends have been with us for as long as you can remember. The dictionary and the thesaurus. A writer is not far from them, and they are always there for a writer.

The dictionary and the thesaurus has been with us since childhood. If there is a word where the meaning is not know, then dictionary can help you. Are you not sure how to spell the whole word? Again, the dictionary is there for you. Do you need a similar word in place of another? Then turn to the thesaurus.

Every writer should have a physical copy of them. But I also think with the internet age, the online dictionary and thesaurus are great as well. When searching on Google, the following websites appear at the top:

The websites allow you to search their online database for the meaning of different words. The best part of these online dictionary is how you can hear the word. I am terrible at pronouncing words. I need to hear it before I can attempt to say it. You can click and hear the word being said. It is a wonderful learning tool when it comes to those really long words.

Back to searching on Google for online thesauruses, and you will see:

Thesaurus.com

Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus

MSN encarta Thesaurus

Thesaurus.com is my personal favorite. They list many different synonyms, and list similar words under your main search. I recommend this online thesaurus over the others, but you can decide for yourself.

Remember, your best friends are there for you through thick and thin. They will never let you down when you are searching for those words.

Word Choice

MMZ — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:03:51 +0000

As a writer, I understand the importance of word choice. Searching for the right phase is time consuming. Yet once you find the right phase, nothing can describe the feeling of “This is it.” I’m a perfectionist by nature. Those feelings are my goal. Nothing else will do, and anything less, is not worth accepting.

Words are the medium of any writer. They must be perfect and true. Writing any more then necessary cheapens and removes meaning.

As a writer, you must choose carefully. Choosing this word over another is what a writer does. These two go together, and not these two. Through I’ve never published anything, I’ve read enough to know I haven’t reached publishing level. Why haven’t I reached the next level? I keep forgetting patience. As a perfectionist, I feel the right wording should come out the first time. The great writing does not come out the first time or even the second. Almost every writing book I’ve read will tell you the same thing. Reading the advice and practicing the advice are two different things.

I’m slowing getting better with letting go and just writing. Sometimes the perfect phase comes and other times the not so perfect phase comes. But writing this way makes me realizes the hardest part isn’t the writing. The hardest part is over coming yourself. The only hurdle I have is myself. No one else. It’s taken me a long time to come to this point in my life as a writer. My life as a writer depends on me first. Once I can depend on myself, my words will connect with one other. My word choice will lead to a published book. Patience is the only thing I need.

It will happen because I know I can do it.

New deviantART Account

MMZ — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 22:40:41 +0000

It’s been a while, but I’m back writing here. I’ve been writing on a new, new idea. So far, 10 pages!! I’m very excited. It’s slow going, since I’m writing by hand, but’s only been one week.

Onto my other creative outlet, a new account has been opened at deviantART. You can view my page here. There are only a few photographs, but I’ll be adding more over the next few days.

I’ll be posting more as the days pass by.

Starting Over

MMZ — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:59:07 +0000

After much debating, I have decided to start over my blog. I’m not heading in the direction I wanted when starting this blog. So I’ve changed my theme and deleted all old posts. I’m hoping to move in the right direction. I’ll be working on my novel and taking online classes on writing. I’m also will be taking photographs on the side. Photographs normally inspire me, so why not try my hand at it. I’ll be posting my shots as soon as I found a local site to photograph. I’m hoping this weekend. If not, I can always photograph my cat if she will let me. I’ll just have to wait and see. Until next time.