I received a DM on Twitter yesterday asking this question:  “How can I finish my story?  I sit down to write and end up doodling or leaving to do something else.”

My answer to these questions has been the same for six years.   It’s simple:

Image: Morguefile & Text: Robyn LaRue

I wish there was a magic answer.  The plain truth is that writers write.  No inspiration?  No problem.  Don’t feel like it?  Too bad.  Don’t have the time?  Carve out the space on your calendar.  Don’t have a goal?  Make one. Be realistic, but set goals for each day, week, or month.

A story or book gets written by placing one word after the other, one sentence after another, one paragraph, one scene, one chapter.  One after the other.

No shortcuts, no magic pill, no trick.  From the internationally famous to the first-timer, we all do it the same way.  Sometimes it happens in flow and the hours pass like minutes.  Sometimes we just slog through our appointed writing time.  Sometimes we jot sentences onto whatever is handy and stuff it into our pocket. Either way, we lay the words down, even if we struggle to get it done.

That’s how writers do it.

Please share your advice and encouragement for first time writers in the comments.  What was your first experience like?

The new author site is up and running with posts Mon, Wed, Weekend plus occasional Tues or Fri. 🙂