Seven tips that have helped shape my writing career—and may help you with yours too!
1. Engaging passion
To be an author you must have something to say, a story you believe in, passionately. Nothing less than passionate belief in your subject will carry you through periods of self-doubt and dejection. Once you have decided to tell your story, remember it is important. Both criticism and praise create false perceptions. Have confidence: you are the one writing this book, not your critics, not your best friend. Be patient. Books take time, concentration, and care.
2. Following a routine
Create a routine. Sit at your desk every day, six, seven days a week. Get something written even if you erase it the next day. These “Habits of Order” will eventually produce something interesting. Routines vary. For me, morning hours are more productive, as long as there is a cup of coffee within reach. I try to avoid reading anything, even the papers, before I start to write. This helps keep my mind focused. After three hours, creative energy starts to flag, and my mind wanders. Then I stop, before fatigue sets in. My usual output is about 500 words. Usually, I edit for two or three hours in the afternoon, unless there are bills to pay, emails to return, books to read . . .
3. Listening to your subconscious
Fictional characters must take on a life of their own. Writing a novel isn’t paint by numbers. Sooner or later, the contents of your subconscious will infiltrate your novel. Characters, like life, can get messy and veer off in unintended directions. So take care to have a structure, a formalized plan to contain them. Remember, you are the author, the alpha dog; you are in charge.
Half way into Halide’s Gift, my first novel about Ottoman Turkey, one of my characters was destined to drown herself in the Bosphorus. Troubled and unhappy, she wandered to the water’s edge in the midst of a raging storm, and tossed her veil into the air. It flapped away like a giant bird. Then she took another step towards the churning water . . . To my amazement, the ticket seller suddenly materialized and pulled her to safety, saving her from the fate I had in mind.
Any author will tell you: during the writing process, your book never leaves you; it’s always there, nagging, pulling, urging you on. Last thing at night, reflect on your problem: a character weakness, a phrase that doesn’t make sense. When you wake, a solution (or maybe two or three) will emerge from the dream state. Even problems related to structure and plot can be resolved this way.
4. Rewriting
Write and rewrite . . . the first draft is just a beginning. Even though you may have planned the story, it’s only when you have a first draft you can tell if your plan works. If you work on a computer, print your manuscript before editing. Computers make you wordy. Cut, cut, cut. Less is better. Edits are easier to see on the printed page.
5. Showing others your work
Only show your work-in-progress to either your editor, your agent, or a trusted colleague. It’s tempting to seek opinions. Writing is solitary, and it’s hard to judge how work is progressing. I know a successful author who belongs to a writers group. For her, their reflections are a touchstone, a way forward in the dark.
I wrote my first novel Goodnight Little Sister as a thesis for a degree in English literature. Every week, I met with my supervisor. Our regular schedule helped me create a routine; I had to have something for her to read. Since she was a published author, her advice was invaluable. The book would not have been written without her. It’s tempting to seek approval from friends and family who will want to be supportive, but everyone will have a different opinion, and confuse you.
6. Knowing your story world inside out
Especially if your write historical fiction (as I do), know your period inside out, like a method actor. Every detail is important to bring the novel to life. Know what your characters ate, what they wore, what their cities looked like, whether they were ruled by a king, a chieftain, an emperor. Were there roads or railways, or did most people travel by foot? Telling a human story and getting the context right is crucial. Without it, your story will sound false.
When researching my recent novel The Dervish, I needed to know if my characters ate breakfast. If so, what did they eat? The question was surprisingly hard to answer. History tends to ignore the minutiae of everyday life. Finally, I discovered the Ottomans usually ate two meals a day, and, yes, most ate a hearty meal in the morning.
7. Absorbing my advice
Absorb my advice . . . then toss it away. Just do it. Write your book.
Tell me your opinion: What has been the greatest lesson you have learned in shaping your writing process?
