Happy Monday everyone, what a wonderful day it is! Last week we talked about the struggle of working through writers block and I mentioned the Neil Gaiman method that I've been using to help knock out The Morrow Lands draft 0.
Let's be honest, I'm not the first or last to mention this method and we'll get right into discussing it with a link to an awesome youtuber, Jed Herne, who was the individual to introduce me to this method with his video "I Tried Neil Gaiman's (classic) Writing Routine for 7 Days...Here's What Happened" so I absolutely suggest you take the 14min to watch his piece once you're finished here.
I selected only a single piece from this video to give a try myself, because let's be honest, I'm a hermit, and one huge bit of this advice requires going out and experiencing nature and people. I have not been so good at this part of the advice, nor have I been following the entire method methodically. This, is of course something I'll be aiming to improve on as I work on The Morrow Lands but what exactly is in Neil Gaiman's "method/routine"?
There were four things noted by Jed in his video, Write Every Day, use Pen and Paper, Do Nothing or Write, and Designate Writing Zones; along with a few other notes that he mentions that stuck with me. And while they seem pretty self-explanatory the parts of the method I've used have been incredibly useful in completing what I have managed on The Morrow Lands. So what are they? What am I following, and what did I kick?
First Writing Every Day, while this seems simple it's not. The idea is that even if it's a few words you make sure you've written something. It is appealing, it just didn't work for me. Personally, I saw this as both unrealistic, as some days you just simply cannot afford those moments, and counterproductive as it hurt my overall performance. I found myself writing wholly awful pieces in the name of "word counts" and that wasn't something that pushed me. A clear record based on how many years I've tried versus succeeded with NANOWRIMO. I've succeeded three years, out of the eleven I've tried. Yet I've finished far more books than will see the light of day based off of entertainment. So, I quickly scrapped this part of the method. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't work for some people, just getting that part of the habit in can be enough for them to succeed. Through trial and error, I've just found this method never works for me.
Next use Pen and Paper. This really helped in pushing me into working through my manuscript. I've written probably five full books worth of content digitally, and many more half-baked-half-finished-projects and yet, the feeling of ink gliding on the page helped me to keep moving. Take my finger off the backspace, so to speak. In this digital age it's really become so easy to fall into disillusion with your work and easily "erase" it from the tapestry you're writing on. However, with pen and paper that becomes something totally different. Sure, you'll mess up, but it's helped me to stop thinking about those spelling errors, those grammatical faux pas, the little clunky dialog. Because I will be altering every ounce of it when I transfer the draft to digital. What I'm worried about while my face is against paper is the story I'm telling, and all to quickly that last piece of paper set out to suggest my daily minimum is gone and I'm having to reach for more.
This brings us to the third, Write or Do Nothing. Jed uses the word stare in his video essay and that is exactly what it means. While not intentional, I have been following this third part of the method. I designate some time to the art of writing, and either I write during that time or I stare at a blank sheet. My computer is put to sleep, my phone silenced, no music, no other stimulus. While this part of the method is jarring at first given the overly-stimulated nature of life now days, after a while it becomes quite easy. I'm often reminded of when I first began story crafting while working like this. It was during the weekends that I produced my best work, sitting on the floor of my Nanny's home, while she napped in her favorite chair, the door open, and fresh spring air wafting through the screen door. It wasn't just the softness of innocent childhood but also the still quiet of having nothing else to do. Focus became easy, and losing oneself to the world being crafted was magical. While I don't agree with the writing everyday part, making sure the environment you write in is absolutely, in my opinion, an essential part to that session's success.
In the spirit of that, the final part of the method is Designated Writing Zones. While I don't have a writing spot myself, I personally believe a designated writing zone is absolutely something that should be considered when looking to give yourself a leg up in productivity. It's part of that environment is everything ideology. Humans tend to be creatures of habit, and having a spot particularly for work or play can be essential to relaxation or productivity. If you can have a spot for yourself, just for writing, go for it. But, if not, I highly suggest trying to work some sort of habit into the mix to help fill the void, so to speak, left by that environmental lack. Sit down with a cup of tea, have a particular candle you light, finish a particular task before, or have a time of day/day of the week that is just for that thing.
Now all of these things are just a method, they could work in whole for one person, in part for another, or not at all for someone else. But I promised a talk on Niel Gaiman and well, here it is.
Book New
-Hollows
I'll be in Traveler's Rest, SC on February 24th for a Winter Book Market! Come catch me there for autographed books, in person only goodies (stickers, character themed bookmarks, and more) and a lovely chat! Stay tuned for an update with exact deets in Feb.
-The Morrow Lands
The second chapter of a planned 25 is finished and work has begun on chapter 3. Wish me luck y'all, I'mma need it!
February Announcements
1st - Newsletter Announcement with awesome book freebies, and other cool thing in the supernatural romance section from myself and other indie authors.
24th - Traveler's Rest, SC - Winter Book Market
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