4 Things to Keep in Mind While Writing Fiction

I don't presume to know everything about writing, but I've learned a great deal as a struggling (though not yet starving) freelance writer. Here are the four big reminders that always see me through a creative crisis:

1. It's called a "rough" draft for a reason!

If it was supposed to come out all nice and perfect, then there wouldn't be a need to revise and edit! So save the second-guessing and self-criticism for later on and allow yourself to be messy. The whole point of a rough draft is to provide raw material to work with during the revise/edit part of the writing process. And, honestly, the rough draft is where you can have the most fun once you stop agonizing over its imperfections.

2. YOU are the Muse! Quit waiting for inspiration to "show up".

By its very nature, inspiration is elusive. So if you chase it, it will run from you. And the time you spend chasing it could have just as easily been spent writing! Don't get me wrong: As a writer, you should always be receptive to inspiration. But there's a big difference between being receptive and just sitting on your butt, staring into space when you should be actively brainstorming and plotting. YOU are your own muse, so get cracking!

3. Taking a break is not sacrilege.

Writing may seem like a passive activity, but really, I can't think of anything more demanding (well, just short of weight training, I guess). So don't force yourself to remain at your keyboard for hours on end, cloistering yourself from the world. Of course, your breaks should be in moderation. You should never let, say, a whole week go by without writing.

4. The Story May Be Chronological, But The Writing Process is Another Story ...

Never force yourself to start with the beginning. If you've already got an idea for a story, start with the scene that came to mind first. A story can be like a puzzle at times, so work with the peices you've already got before you go scrambling after the ones that seem to be missing.