How to Jump Start a Writer’s Day ~~ My Guest Blogger, Author, Jodi Thomas
‘ As I was saying in Trisha’s Motivational Moments for Writers: The hardest thing a writer does each day is sitting down to work. In 28 years as a working writer I’ve published 45 books and 13 novellas. The hardest thing wasn’t learning to write, but learning to managing time. I picked up a few tricks but it is still the dragon I fight every day.
First, remember this is your job. If you worked in an office or taught school you wouldn’t stop and answer every friend’s call. So leave the phone in the kitchen or garage. You’re at work. One phone call might not knock you out of fiction, but the third one might.
Second, build your nest. I find this makes it easy for me to step into fiction. It doesn’t matter if your nest is in a secret room in the attic or a small desk in a hotel room, it needs to be your nest.
I usually start with a notebook. My facts book, my bible for the series. It includes all characters’ names and basic facts. Maps of the area—if you’re making up a town, make up the map. Sometimes pages of research like maps of the area or dates that need to be considered. If you’re writing about a time in history you need to be aware of what was happening on that day in history. If Lincoln was shot or 9/11 happened your fictional characters need to react. Continue reading “Guest Blog from Best Selling Author, Jodi Thomas”
