This week has been crazy… between the House of Inks write-ins and workshops and even a conference, I feel like I have been glued to my laptop.
Do I need all of this to become a writer?
- The only thing you really need to become a writer is to write. In fact this is the part I enjoy the most. I hate the re-writing and editing process.
- However, these write-ins, conferences and workshops fuel the flame, while helping me hone my craft.
- Also, the energy you get from attending these events is awesome. I get to be with my people.
I finished my second draft of Wake Me Up today. Mostly I took out the stuff I didn’t need and adding stuff I did need.
Now I am going to put it aside. I will read books on writing and crafting horror stories. When I pick it back up I will work on the mood. Once I have that done, I’ll work on my characters and bringing them to life.
I think there will be two more drafts after those. I want this book to be as good as it can be before I send it out to my Beta readers.
As a pantser I have trouble trying to plot. However, I use the W-Plot. I put the bare basics on the beats where I need to be.
I figured out recently this is still a three act structure. Hence the vertical line on the W. I constantly learn about the craft. I have completed first drafts in the past. The key word is first draft. You don’t want to publish these. They are not ready.
My first draft gets everything that pops into my head. My second draft entailed cutting out things that didn’t move the story forward. Writing this tells me that there is one more subplot I need to lose.
Writing is my life. I read about writing. I read others writing, not necessarily in my genre. I read almost everything. When I write I write dark. (Except for my children’s book, Mikey’s Tail.)
I wish I could write funny stories. If I do it’s totally by accident.
If you want to write, my advice is to carve out some time and begin. You can just write a sentence or a paragraph or a page. Every time you write you are one step closer to having a completed story. Feel free to ask questions.
Love, Peace and Light! Rita
My Crazy Life 