I’ve been
writing a dozen years. As an avid reader, I knew that I wanted to be a novelist.
Ideas in the beginning were a problem. Just what does one write about?
I took
correspondence writing courses and a few college classes. Instructors assigned
topics or at least gave perimeters for articles and stories. That structure was
just what I needed as a newbie.
Before
writing my first novel, I created a chapter-by-chapter story outline. I typed
those famous words that all authors type—Chapter One. Great start.
Unfortunately,
those were the best words I wrote for three days.
I labored
over each phrase, each sentence. After four days, the first page was almost
finished, but Page Two stumped me. I knew the events in Chapter Thirteen. How
was I going to write myself there?
Can you
relate?
After staring
at the screen for a while, I started a new page—Chapter Thirteen. I wrote all
the scenes. I finished the entire chapter with nothing else written except page
one. It was the right thing to do because it broke the ice. I still labored
over each sentence, but the story grew by 800-1,000 words daily.
A structured
outline helped me write my first three manuscripts. Later outlines slowly
became less detailed. Then I discovered I didn’t need them any longer. Those
early writings, though unpublishable, had trained me how to write a novel from
beginning to end. It’s a skill that is not as easy as it sounds, is it?
If you are
struggling to get words on the page for your first or second manuscript, know
you are in good company. You are learning far more than you realize about
dialogue, action, and the flow of events.
“Be patient
with your own learning.” That’s a quote from one of my wise teachers. We can’t
digest a whole pie in one sitting, nor is that advisable. Writing works the
same way. Don’t beat yourself up for not knowing something. Take writing
courses. Attend writer’s conferences. Read books about the writing craft from
knowledgeable authors.
Then sit down
in front of your PC or laptop. Place your fingers over the keys. Say a prayer.
Take a deep breath and type “Chapter One.”
And if you
need to write Chapter Thirteen first, go ahead.
Do you have trouble getting started on a story? What are your tricks?
~~~~~~
About Sandra Merville Hart:
Sandra Merville Hart, Assistant Editor for DevoKids.com, loves to find unusual or
little-known facts in her historical research to use in her stories. Her debut Civil War romance, A
Stranger On My Land, was an IRCA Finalist 2015. Her second Civil War romance novel, A Rebel in My House, is set during the Battle of Gettysburg. It released
on July 15, 2017. Visit Sandra on her blog at https://sandramervillehart.wordpress.com/.
A Rebel in My House
When the cannons roar beside Sarah Hubbard’s
home outside of Gettysburg, she despairs of escaping the war that’s come to
Pennsylvania. A wounded Confederate soldier on her doorstep leaves her with a
heart-wrenching decision.
Separated from his unit and with
a bullet in his back, Jesse Mitchell needs help. He seeks refuge at a house
beside Willoughby Run. His future lies in the hands of a woman whose sympathies
lay with the North.
Jesse has promised his
sister-in-law he’d bring his brother home from the war. Sarah has promised her
sister that she’d stay clear of the enemy. Can the two keep their promises amid
a war bent on tearing their country apart?
Sandra’s Blog, Historical
Nibbles: https://sandramervillehart.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandra.m.hart.7
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sandra_M_Hart
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/sandramhart7/
Sandra's Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8445068.Sandra_Merville_Hart
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sandra-Merville-Hart/e/B00OBSJ3PU/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
