Finished the 1st draft of my 3rd novel on Thursday, called:
“Demon Crossfire”
(Part 3 of my 7-part “Enoch Wars” series).
It took 14 days to write.
And, I reckon it’ll take about 2.5 months to edit.
(After I let it “cool” for a couple months).
Anyway, a not long ago, a friend asked me about writing a novel. Like most people, he knows there’s a novel in him, and he wanted some guidance on various areas of the process.
Some fast tips include:
- Writing to entertain yourself first
- Not getting bogged down writing bloated descriptions (which I find boring) or trying to impress anyone with words 99% of the US population can’t even pronounce anyway
- Using a treadmill desk to boost your creativity, and have more energy to write for longer without fatigue or brain fog
- Writing drunk, and editing sober
I best ‘splain this last part…
I’m not talking *literally* drunk here.
I’m talking ZERO inhibitions when writing.
Get as obnoxious as you want.
As crude as you want.
And, yes, as disturbing as you want.
For example, my first novel has a scene where a cop turned into a zombie and ate his two 9 year old twin daughters — which was totally unplanned and extremely disturbing to write.
(Have another glass of wine, Ben…)
But, that’s how it goes.
You hold no thought back.
Care not what your mush cookie facebook friends will think, or what your mom will think, or even what your preacher will think.
They don’t exist when you’re writing.
Only YOU exist.
In your own world.
And you do everything at your pleasure.
And when it’s time to edit?
Then you sober up. Make sure it’s what you want the public to see. And make it appropriate for your market.
Anyway, those are a few tips.
But, tomorrow I reveal more on “The Ben Settle Show”.
If you want to write a novel, but are having trouble getting started, I think you’ll find it mucho helpful (I don’t claim to be a great novelist, but I’m pretty good at getting started, and getting started is more than most people will ever do…)
Watch for my signal tomorrow, Commissioner.
In the meantime?
Download previous episodes here:
www.BenSettleShow.com/antipreneur
Ben Settle
