Getting Started by Annmarie Miles
Let’s welcome back monthly columnist Annmarie Miles as she shares with us about “Getting Started.” Enjoy!
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I had the privilege of leading a workshop for a group of writers last weekend. My theme was ‘The Writer’s Voice’. Not so much finding your voice, important as that is, more so having the confidence to let your voice be heard.
As these workshops often are, it was a mix of ages, stages and styles of writing. We had some lively conversation and great food. (Always a bonus for eager writers.) The coordinator of the day mentioned to me that there might be someone attending, who was still exploring writing and hadn’t really started. It occurred to me that there may be one or two who read Writer’s Fun Zone who are in the same boat… thinking about writing, but not yet doing it.
You hear it a lot don’t you…
“I’ve always wanted to write a book.”
“I know everyone probably says they have a book in them, but I really would love to give it a go.”
“When the kids are older and life gets a bit quieter, I’m going to do it.”
“I want to write, but I’m not sure where to start…”
Well if that’s you, here are my thoughts on getting started 😉
First of all let me tell you that the quieter day is probably not coming. Life does not tend to work like that. I find that if I stumble up some spare time, it can all too easily be filled with other stuff. But even if that quieter day was to come, it’s unlikely one would go from not writing at all, to sitting for hours in a bay window, writing a masterpiece.
Whatever lifestyle you have now, you should think about how writing can fit into it. Let it become a habitual part of your day. At the start, you don’t need to write for hours on end. Try 10 minutes each day, just jotting down thoughts about the book you want to write. As it becomes a habit you will write more and it will get easier. If you really want to write a book, long term you may have to choose between getting your word count up and watching Somewhere’s Got Talent (or whatever TV grabs you). In the end it will be worth it.
Don’t let writing be a far off vague idea of windswept creativity. Make it a daily commitment to put your bum in a chair and get some words down on the page. (Advice given to me when I started, which I have taken to heart; it has served me very well!) The book in your head may or may not be a Booker Prize winner, but you won’t know that until it’s written. Get it out of your head and on to the page. Only then can you do something with it.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Annmarie Miles, part time writer, full time believer is 40something, Irish, Christian, married, and proud to be all of those things. She loves words, music & chocolate! You can find out all about her and her book “The Long & The Short of It”.
Where to find Annmarie:
Website: www.annmariemiles.com.
Email: amowriting@gmail.com
Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/amowriting
Google+: auntyamo
Twitter: @amowriting
Personal Blog: www.auntyamo.com
Writing Blog: www.annmariemiles.com/blog
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