I am so smitten with technology.
After all, it’s the digital medium that has allowed thousands of authors like myself to write and self-publish their works to a waiting audience. April 2nd saw the release of my fourth book at e-retailers everywhere, and so far it’s been my best sales month in which I haven’t run an ad or promotion. One sale per day may be small potatoes, but it’s a step in the right direction. I’ve also started drafting up some ideas for a new series, which I’m excited about. I have enough material to keep me writing for the next three years or so, even if I come up with zero new story ideas (which is unlikely to happen).
So I thought today I’d talk a little bit about how I write – what works, what doesn’t, and what I’d like to do better.
First of all, I have to say that I’ve come to find Google Drive an indispensable tool for writing. Having everything at my fingertips whenever inspiration strikes is the most valuable thing in the world. I use a web server to house most large files I need to transfer back and forth between computers, but when it comes to drafts, outlines, storyboards, and notes, there’s nothing better than a cache I can access without ever having to save or transfer from one place to another.
Some people may be wary about storing their manuscripts in ‘the cloud,’ and that’s fine – if you’re not comfortable with that, I understand. There has been some discussion over whether the Google Drive Terms of Use allow the company to take ownership of your intellectual property. These rumors, however, have been greatly exaggerated. I estimate the likelihood of a multi-billion-dollar corporation having any desire to illicitly acquire the half-completed manuscripts of a self-published author to be approximately zilch.
Whenever I can manage it, I write on a computer. There are limitless distractions (ahem, like this blog) that can pull me away from my writing, but part of the discipline that needs to be learned (and re-learned) is knowing when to say no to those distractions. Setting distractions aside falls into the category of something I’d like to do better.
Whenever I can’t be near a computer, I keep notes on my phone. I can’t count the number of times I’ve been on the verge of sleep and haven’t been able to fall under until I get that one-liner or key plot point recorded somewhere.
I had a friend once who claimed he had his best ideas on the pot. It’s true – you never know when inspiration will strike. That’s why the iPad has become another invaluable tool in my writing. It’s perfect for road trips, waiting rooms, and yes, even the john. I’ve been able to boost my daily word count by jotting down a few sentences here and there between other activities, and that makes the iPad worth its weight in telerium.
Speaking of daily word count, I doubt there is a writer on earth who doesn’t wish they could write faster. I’m the type of person who likes to set goals for myself. At my day job, I’ve found that I almost always work better when I have a hard deadline to meet. While I can’t say I’m the fastest writer around, I try to get at least a thousand fresh words out of my head every day. That’s something I’m comfortable with, and something I feel I can do fairly easily, given ample time and my regular schedule. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of days when I write more than that, and a few here and there where I write less. That’s okay, as long as the end result is the same – 365,000 words a year, or a few books’ worth. With my shorter series, I’ve been able to write faster than that and crank out a book in just over a month. Putting those books on a three-month release schedule gives me plenty of time for proofing and editing.
The amount of planning a writer puts into his or her work falls along a spectrum from strict plotting to all-out “pantsing,” and whereas I find it much more fun to fly by the seat of my pants, I’ve found I can write faster with a loose plot outline. Everyone is different, though, and I’d recommend trying out various methods to find what works best for you. There’s no right or wrong way to write, after all.
So that’s a little bit about what works for me. Just as in all areas of life, it’s sometimes advantageous to get outside your comfort zone. My advice when it comes to writing is to try everything out there first so you can find your comfort zone. When you find it, you’ll know. Stick with it. Your best writing may only come when the stars align, but you’ve got to give yourself your best chance for that to happen.