“One of the things that happens when you give yourself permission to start writing is that you start thinking like a writer. You start seeing everything as material.”
– Anne Lamott, “Bird by Bird”
About a year ago I had this intense desire to flex my writing muscles. At first, I didn’t have a specific story in my head. But as I started writing, stories started pouring out of me in quick succession.
The more I wrote, the more ideas I had to write about. The more I observed my surroundings, the more stories filled my head that begged to be written.
Two of my favorite pieces that came from that season can be found on my blog. I literally wrote them as I walked down a street in Savannah, Georgia. I scribbled furiously, dodging pedestrians and jumping over cracks in the sidewalk.
If you'd like to read my stories from Savannah, Georgia, check them out here.
So, you want to write a book? Here’s where you start:
1. Start Writing – Fill a notebook stream-of-conscious-style with words, phrases, ideas, characters, topics.
2. Keep Writing – Don’t allow yourself to get lost in the planning and preparing to write. Just write.
If it helps, buy a book about writing. I already mentioned “Spellbinding Sentences,” but the other book I’ve been reading through is Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird.” It’s the first thing I’ve ever read by her and I’ve found she is incredibly funny and down to earth. (Note: I'm not getting paid to promote these works, they are simply tools I have personally used.)
I've been working behind the scenes on some fun things for writers, would-be-writers, and all those who dream of publishing their writing. I'm so excited to announce ...
The Brand-New, Expanded Writer's Starter Kit workbook is now available!
