Following the first installment from screenwriter and novelist Barbara Jane Mackie yesterday, VB is told all about how to stay committed to writing a novel.
Write everyday
Barbara’s top tip to sticking with your novel, “I’d say write something everyday. Keep progressing it.
“It’s about not leaving it. If you do it in a stop-start way you lose focus. Writing a novel is like a marathon.
“You need to keep visiting that world because if you pull out of it, it’s going to take longer to get back into it.”
Avoid distractions
Barbara stresses the importance of getting away from the internet, even avoiding emails.
“That’s very important because all writers love to be distracted. It’s far too tempting and you can lose hours on there.
“Go to a different place, have a separate work room, be very structured.”
Give yourself some alone time with your novel.
Fit writing into your daily life
You’ve got to give time over to writing, finding blessed minutes not dedicated to the daily grind and family life.
Barbara explains, “People structure things in different ways because they have jobs as well, they’re often juggling.
“If you’re a new writer it’s difficult to make money as you’re writing. If you’re working full time, write at the weekends or in the mornings or evenings. If you have a block of time like summer holidays or a three month period or something then I’d suggest write full days.
“Write as much as you can.”
Barbara J Mackie will be holding her next writing workshop at the Blacksheep Bar in Ryde on 21, 22, 23 September.
