Not sure how to get started writing?  Maybe you’re working on a poem or a short story?  Maybe something a bit longer like a 500 page novel!?  Well, good for you!  People often ask me about my ‘writing process’, which basically means, how do I go about getting my writing done?
I’ve got a few tips.
I guarantee you that if you do these things, your writing will be the best that it can be!  So, here we go!

1) Turn off the TV! I have never met an author who can write (well) while watching TV.  It’s a distraction and doesn’t need to be on while you’re working on important things!

2) Write down everything! Don’t worry about whether it’s any good or not… now’s not the time for that… just write it down… all ideas are good at this point!  You can look more closely at them later and decide whether you want to develop them or not.

3) Write down your ideas as soon as you can or you might forget them! Believe me, I’ve learned the hard way!  Try to always have a pen and paper or voice recorder or a good listener (with a good memory!) around at all times!  Don’t let your great idea slip away!

4) Talk about your ideas with people you know! Writers can be very secretive with their ideas.
You don’t have to share every little detail, but it doesn’t hurt to ‘bounce things off’ people to see how they like it.  I have found that most writers are keen on talking about what they’re working on and helping each other out.  I read lots of my poems to hundreds and hundreds of people before they’re published and it has been a great help to me.  It also motivates me to write more when I get positive feedback on something that isn’t even done yet!

4) Never steal another person’s idea! If someone talks to you about their idea – it’s theirs.
You have plenty of your own good ideas to work on!

5) Eat right and drink plenty of water! It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re writing.
I’ve found that I’m a much better writer and think more clearly if I’ve had a good meal and remembered to drink plenty of water throughout the day.  I sometimes make mistakes like grabbing a cookie (or two!) when I should be eating a salad and that’s not good.  Always save the sweets for after a good meal.

6) Exercise! Your brain (and your body!) will work so much better if you get out and exercise.
I don’t mean getting in the car to drive to a gym where you sit on a bike that goes nowhere for a half hour… I mean go for a walk, look at the trees, take in the world, look at the birds, watch the bugs on the ground!  Leave the iPod at home!  I get some of my best ideas when I’m out for walk!

7)  Write and/or think about what you’re writing everyday! A writer must work in order to get things done.  I usually work for several days doing the actual writing and then several days of thinking ideas through and jotting down more ideas, etc. before going to back to writing again.
Be sure to reward yourself with a day or two ‘off’ each month!

8) Be organized! All those ideas you’re remembering need to be kept organized.  Put your ideas in files.  Keep all the little pieces of paper you’ve scribbled things on in one place and never throw any of it away!

9) Write down your dreams! Ever had a weird dream?  Write it down!  A lot of my ideas come from dreams.  The trick is to write them down right away.  Don’t think you’ll remember it later – you probably won’t.

10) Read! You’ll become a better writer the more you read.  If you’re very busy writing and don’t feel like getting into a very long book, then try reading short stories, poems and other short literary works that you can finish in one night.