Bookmarked this Twitter thread back in February, but was reminded of it again over the weekend, so I thought I’d capture the content once and for all here:
I have now written more than one book, so hopefully have learned something about the process. Here at the ten things I wish I knew when I started. I hope they help any budding authors out there! (Thread)
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
1) You will save more versions of word docs than you thought possible. You NEED a clear & logical system to save, order & back up files from day one. And never delete old versions. While working on draft 15, you’ll recall a line in draft 3 that didn’t work then but does now.
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
Think this is true of all creative writing, even code and databases. In fact what you need is a flexibly linked system, where random and structured stuff hangs together. (eg see Scrivener link below, but anything with extensible mark-up and content searching.) That point about remembering old deleted lines in new contexts is something that happens to me ten times a day!
2) When you are given a deadline it always feels like the far distant future, and easily attainable. That is a mistake that breeds complacency. Plan your schedule backward from submission date, and you’ll find that in fact you are already behind.
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
3) ‘Writing’ is a misleading work. It encompasses several different jobs: researching, ordering, writing, editing, checking. The writing bit isn’t even half the process. Each aspect requires a quite different skill & headspace – find the right time and mindset for each task.
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
4) The most important element of writing (in my opinion) is in fact solving a series of logic problems about the order of ideas and themes. Spend more time and effort on getting this right. It really helps in the end.
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
Everyone needs a schema, even a stream of consciousness where the characters lead the narrative. (Your schema can be minimalist of course, or just a seed if you have no preconceived story or message, see Lee Child as described by Andy Martin in “And Reacher Said Nothing”. For the other extreme see J K Rowling. Most of us will need something in between.)
5) If you can possibly manage it have at least a few days off – totally off – once you have some drafts together. Writing chapters becomes an obsession, and frazzles your brain. It prevents you critically reviewing your own material & seeing the bigger message. A break helps.
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
6) Everyone thinks they can write a book while doing other jobs. It’s harder than you think. The closer to deadline, the more all-encompassing it becomes. If poss, have time off other commitments toward the end & tell mates you won’t be going to the pub etc, because you won’t be
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
7) If you are struggling with inspiration try reading and writing using different fonts, sizes and formats. I often write sections as text messages or emails. For some reason, a new format sometimes stimulates more and different ideas.
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
8) The more feedback the better – don’t be too precious to share early drafts. If possible do a couple of talks too. People’s responses will be very valuable. Just the idea that someone else will read your words will force you into some discipline.
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
9) Do not leave all your footnotes or reference checking until the end. I do this every time and hate myself. You really do not want to be dealing with this when you have 48 hours to deadline.
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
10) Do not decide if you enjoy being a writer until 1 year after it’s published. You’re not just an author: you’re a salesperson for your ideas. The speaking, debates, feedback & fun is part of the job. Be sure to enjoy that stuff, as you’ve been lonely & slaving away for it!
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
/end! Hope that might help some of you – pls share it with anyone who might find it helpful. Of course, this is just my experience. Everyone will find their own way. But these ten things certainly helped me.
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
Bonus: your so-called friends will take longer than you’d like to review your chapter drafts. Be nice to them and give them plenty of time. They are just as busy as you. It’s easy to think that everyone believes your project is as important as you do. They don’t.
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
Bonus 2: if, like me, you find the artistic side of writing difficult, and that it arrives at random times, here’s a tip. When you think you’re ‘in the zone’ cancel everything and keep going. All night if needed. They are precious moments. You can achieve days of work in hours.
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
See also first comment on flexible, extensible mark-up process. Need a low-tech way of capturing (and finding) thoughts that “feel” relevant in the moment at any time – and crash on with drafting when the muse strikes.
I have had so many brilliant replies and further suggestions, I may have to collate them and put them all together somewhere…
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
Copyright acknowledged.
If and when Jamie collates and publishes, I will delete and link.
The overwhelming consensus seems to be these are helpful tips except 1) and everyone should try @ScrivenerApp …
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 22, 2018
Bonus 3: forget the romantic idea of disappearing to a Portuguese villa and writing outside by a lake. You will need to be sitting in your front room with your creature comforts: coffee machine, printer, reliable wifi, familiar brands of crisps, music. (h/t to @BabitaBBC).
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) February 23, 2018
I think here the message is variety and horses for courses. As Jamie says there are in fact many different tasks besides “writing” you need to make space(s) for all of them.
And as Jamie notes, plenty of side-branches with additional thoughts from others – that’s extensible mark-up 😉