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Making Time to Write a Novel

One of the first rules to remember is that writers write. You should write something every day, even if all you do with the finished piece is tear it up and throw it away.

Writing something, anything, every day will enable you to build up the discipline and commitment required to ensure that you can produce a complete manuscript in whatever genre you choose.

• Set aside a corner in your home solely for your writing.
• Keep a notebook in which to jot down ideas.
• Select a suitable time to write each day and stick to it.
• Give yourself a time limit for writing, say, an hour a day to begin with.
• Write something every day and even if you think it's terrible, retain it until the next day.
• Begin by re-reading what you wrote yesterday; at the very least it will encourage you to rewrite. At best, it will be much better than you thought and spur you on to write more.
• Buy a good dictionary and thesaurus.
• Manuscripts intended for publication must be typewritten so, if possible, use a personal computer (PC). The more professional your writing looks, the more professional you will feel.