Writers are not born one fine day; they are like butterflies that evolve from larva slowly and steadily. Writing itself can seem challenging but becoming a prolific book writer is no hard task. How do you become a prolific book writer?
1. Write, write and write
The more you write, the better will you become at writing. The best way to write is by maintaining a routine time for writing. It could be any time you choose. Ask yourself when you would most prefer to write. You may feel you are at your creative best early morning or late night when there is silence around. Choose your preferred time and jot down your thoughts.
2. Sketch an outline
It may not always be easy to have an outline in mind when you write. But as you progress, you will understand that an outline helps you to speed up your writing. After you have jotted a few ideas, think about what you are going to write about. Is it a crime-filled short story or a love-themed poem? Then think of the message you want to convey.
3. Silence your inner demons
All writers have self-doubts and writing blocks. But instead of wallowing in these distracters, try concentrating on your work at hand. Do you have an incomplete poem or story that needs attention? If your inner demons are thudding your head, just ignore those negative voices and maintain your flow of writing. After all, all prolific writers have a plan or structure in mind to keep them going!
4. Be confident
Confidence is one key skill that every writer should arm himself or herself with. When you start to write, there may be doubts that assail you. Just ignore them and remain confident. Not every writer becomes prolific with just one write-up. The more you write, the more confident will you feel. This makes you improve your writing.
5. Let your thoughts unreservedly flow
When you get creatively inspired, you should let your thoughts flow freely onto paper. You may have a blurry outline in mind. Stick to it and write your first draft. You may feel the draft is horrible and needs revision. But do not attempt revision. Let your thoughts freely flow. You can attempt rewriting at a later stage. Editing or rewriting may hamper your creative juices. Hence it is better to write uninhibitedly.
6. Read
Ever wondered how famous writers write the way they write? The answer lies in reading. All prolific writers are great readers. They seek inspiration from other writers. They may feel inspired by different styles of writing, the treatment of themes, the development of plots, setting of the plots, etc. So if you want to get motivated, try keeping your favourite book by your side when you write. Flipping through it may help you to write more!
7. Rewrite
After you have written the first draft, then you should try revising or rewriting. Try rewriting after a short break. This breather helps you in looking at your write-up from a fresh angle. You may even have new thoughts to incorporate.
While procrastinating may tempt you, the wise thing to do is to keep on writing.
Image credit: Sheila on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0