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Thinking about writing your first novel can take years of wasted moments. Don’t make the same mistake with starting! To paraphrase the famous Wayne W. Dyer quote, “Don’t die with your novel still inside of you”. Let’s make 2020 the year you start AND finish your novel.
 
How to start.
 
1. Get help from those who are more experienced.
- You can do this in a number of ways: working with a professional writing coach such as myself and through books on the writing craft.
 
2. Attend writing workshops, conferences, and retreats.
- These are fantastic places to receive inspiration, network, and learn the craft of writing. I will be attending a special writing retreat later this year. So keep an eye out for my future blog on the benefits.
 
3. Gather your tools.
- Like any artist, you need tools. It can be as simple as a notepad and pen or as elaborate as three computer monitors for each stage of your process. Find what works and use it. If you have no tools, you won’t start.
 
4. Schedule time.
- One of the most common excuses I hear is that a person “doesn’t have time” to write. So make it! Literally write the time into your diary or calendar. And, make it clear to those around you understand that you are NOT to be interrupted. This part is important. You will be interrupted, and you will need to be firm in sending them away (as a mother, I understand how hard this can be. More on that in an upcoming blog post!).
 
5. Write!
- This is the most obvious yet overlooked part of the process. At some point, you have to sit and put words down. Everyone approaches this step in their own way. Feel free to play and experiment with plotting or pantsting (writing without a formal plan). But get your first draft down as quickly as you can. This will make you feel like you have achieved something important (which, of course, you have!).
 
Next month, I’ll be giving some handy tips on how to FINISH your novel, so make sure you check back!
 
Is there anything else you can think of to add? Please share in the comments.
 
Yours in writing and editing,
 
A.K. Leigh xo

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Like many writers, I am a master procrastinator. Even so, I manage to get a mammoth amount of writing and publishing done (along with my writing coaching, author services, mothering, studying, and other commitments).

For instance, on 5th December, my tenth book for 2019 will be published! You read that right – TEN books. Part of this is due to excellent organisational skills (more on this in another blog coming soon) and part of it is knowing how to utilise what I call “helpful procrastination”.

Did you know there is such a thing?

You do now. :-)
 
One of my favourite romantic poets, John Keats, would tell his friends that in those moments when it looked like all he was doing was staring into the distance, that was the time he was doing his best work.

​But most of us are not John Keats . . .

​Armed with this knowledge, I am not saying you will never again indulge in wasteful procrastination. That is an unreasonable and unrealistic goal. You are human, and sometimes the wasteful type is exactly what you need. The point of this post is to help you experience more of the helpful kind and less of the wasteful kind.
 
Now, it’s over to you. Put these steps into practice and see how your procrastination morphs from wasteful to helpful, then let me know how you went in the comments below. Also, feel free to comment with any other helpful procrastination tips, tricks, or techniques you use.
 
Happy writing,
 
A.K. Leigh xo