Christine Harris - Author

New Writers: FAQs

I have an idea for a story, but where do I start?

Anywhere; with the last line, a setting, characters, moral dilemma or a simple 'What if?' idea. It doesn't matter where you start. A completed jigsaw puzzle begins with a single piece, then it grows. Just like a story. If you wait for the perfect words, idea or time, you might never start. If writing is what you want to do, then start immediately.

How do I make time to write?

  • This will depend on your work schedule and personality. But be determined, and choose specific times. Try some of these hints: Get up half an hour early each morning. Even if you only do it on week days, that will give you two and a half hours writing time a week.
  • Block out an afternoon a week. Turn on the answer machine so you can't be interrupted, or go out to a library, cafe or beach. Tell your loved ones that you would like a couple of hours a week for yourself. You might find they will be more accommodating if they know what is going on. Use waiting time.
  • How many hours do we use up sitting around at the doctor, dentist, lunch times while we're eating our sandwich, at the kids' school, waiting at sports practice, singing lessons, or on the bus home from work? This time can be used to write.
  • Have a writing 'season'. One writer I know takes notes on the bus to work each day, then spends a few weeks of his holidays each year writing them up.
  • Get up at night. If you are not a good sleeper, why lie there and worry? Get out of bed and do something creative. This is especially good if you have small children. They are asleep at this hour and your time is private and uninterrupted.
  • Join a writers' group or sign up for a course. This way, you have to write something for a deadline.

What if I'd like to write but I don't like using a computer?

Millions of books were written before computers. If you prefer, use a pencil, pen, charcoal, Braille or tape recorder for first drafts. Then you could barter labour with a friend or relative to type your story, or pay a professional typist.

What if someone else is writing the same story?

While it's important to know what books are currently available, your idea won't be exactly the same as someone else's. Also, your writing 'voice' or style will be unique to you.

How many drafts should I do?

Whatever it takes.

What do I do when I've finished my manuscript?

Put it aside and don't be tempted to peek at it for at least a few days, preferably a few weeks. Then edit. We become so close to our work that we often can't see errors immediately.

Are manuscript appraisal services helpful?

If you want an opinion, outside of your own circle of family and friends, this is an option. Although, a good critique is no guarantee of publication and a negative one may not necessarily mean the manuscript is not good enough. Personal opinions vary. However, writers can always learn from the comments of others, even if we don't agree with them.
And it does pay to check out each service first. Here are a few options to consider:

Where do I send my manuscript for publication?

The Australian Society of Authors has suggestions for getting published. Most countries have equivalent organizations. Also, your local writers' centre can help with this. They keep publications listing publishers' names, addresses and the kinds of material they publish. Links to several centres (Australian) are listed further down this page. Writers’ centres also hold seminars on getting published. Some publishers don't accept unsolicited manuscripts. For these, you will need to go through a literary agent. 'The Australian Literary Agents' Association' has a helpful website.

I haven't heard anything about my manuscript for weeks. Should I ring the publisher?

Sure. Why not? But remember they have thousands of manuscripts to read, so it does take time. A dose of patience is good at this point. I'd suggest waiting at least 6-8 weeks before phoning. And it is just as true of publishers, as it is of anyone else, that you catch more flies with honey that you do with vinegar. If you choose to phone, a polite inquiry will win you more brownie points than a curt demand for an editor to read your work.

What is the most important thing to remember?

Whether your writing is a pleasant pastime, money-earning hobby, or a serious ambition - enjoy it. More information about getting published can be found at www.cbc.org.au

What can I do about writers' block?

  • Change the place you write.
  • Play different music.
  • Dress as a character in your story !!!
  • Take time out and do something entirely different.
  • Have a routine of preparation rituals. (Eg, sharpening pencils, cracking your knuckles or rearranging furniture. I play Solitaire until I get the first game out, then I have to start writing.) Meditate. (It relaxes you.)
  • Have set writing times and habit will sometimes draw words from a tired mind.
  • Read aloud what you have already written or something that you feel you wrote well.
  • Free writing. Write what ever comes into your head for a set amount of time, anything from one to thirty minutes. The only rule is that you mustn't stop till the time is up. Don't wait for inspiration. Begin even if you don't feel like it. You might warm up and rediscover your talents.
  • Set yourself a word count target and don't leave your chair until you have finished. Reward yourself with a treat; a walk, a chocolate, a bubble bath, a manicure. Write down the reasons why you are stuck.
  • Display any awards or competition certificates you have won to encourage yourself. Write in a single sentence what your story, long or short, is really about and aim for that.
  • Exercise. (Extra oxygen to the brain sometimes makes it work.)
  • Draw a diagram of the house in which your story is set or sketch a character.
  • Create a chat room in your head by imagining two of your characters then let them talk to each other. Write down what they say.
  • Allow yourself to be restless or bored. Creativity often follows if you allow your brain to freewheel.
  • Sleep on it. Your unconscious mind will often work out a tangled plot problem and the answer pops into your head when you wake up.
  • Write a list of 30 questions about your story, then answer them. Begin your own list of motivational techniques that work for you. Keep it handy and add to it as you discover new ones.