Write This Way Collection: The Complete Series

WRITE THIS WAY COLLECTION

THE COMPLETE SERIES

AMANDA APTHORPE

Copyright (C) 2023 Amanda Apthorpe

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Published 2023 by Next Chapter

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.

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CONTENTS

Time Management for Writers

About the Series

Introduction

Motivation

Exercise 1: Spontaneous Writing

Procrastination

Goal Setting

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

The Point of Resistance

How to Become a Time Thief

Flow or Immersion

Other Ideas to Assist Flow

Resilience

Acknowledgments

References

Appendix

Finding Your Writer’s Voice

About the Series

Introduction

I. Finding Your Voice:

The Authentic You

II. Using Your Voice:

The Dynamic You

References

Acknowledgments

Appendix

Write Great Characters

About The Series

Introduction

I. The Protagonist

II. The Antagonist

III. Secondary And Minor Characters

IV. Dialogue

Afterword

Acknowledgments

Write Compelling Plots

Introduction

I. Plot And Story

II. Description

III. Editing Toolbox

Dear Writer

Acknowledgments

About the Author

TIME MANAGEMENT FOR WRITERS

WRITE THIS WAY BOOK 1

ABOUT THE SERIES

Each volume in this Write This Way series is designed to address the needs, interests and concerns that have emerged from my years of teaching creative writing to students in undergraduate degrees and short courses, from my academic engagement with the national and international writing communities, and from my own writing practice.

While many students/class participants and solo writers have great intentions of completing a writing project, few will see it through, claiming that there is too little time. As such, this guide on time management is the first in the series to establish patterns or rituals of writing that will sustain the journey to completion.

Once established, writers can hone their craft by following subsequent editions that include – finding your writing voice; characterization and point of view; plot and structure; dialogue, description and setting; and the editing toolbox.

Each volume takes the writer step-by-step through specific elements of writing, providing useful strategies, opportunities for reflection, for learning current research, and to write. The inclusion of space within each volume for the writing exercises and reflections provides a record that can be reflected upon at a later time.

INTRODUCTION

Dear Reader

May I ask: Are you a procrastinator? Is that why you’ve picked up/downloaded this book?

If so, you have company. Procrastinating about undertaking tasks, especially if it’s been imposed or is not desirable, is a common problem. That seems quite reasonable. However, procrastinating even when the task is something you really want to do, like writing a novel, short story, research paper, poem ... that’s a bigger problem.

OR

Perhaps you’re not a procrastinator, but you just don’t have enough time to do what you need to do or what you want to do. There are so many other demands: raising a family, enjoying and maintaining friendships and a social life; work and/or study; other hobbies; travel … and the list goes on. These are legitimate time stealers, and most, if not all, are very pleasant. You feel guilty if you write and think that perhaps it’s just a little bit (or very) self-indulgent.

OR

You have all the time in the world but find yourself staring at a blank page or screen and time feels like a weight on your shoulders. What’s even worse is that you feel guilty that you’re not writing. You think of all those hours that you could have written and …

In any case, you’re making a good choice if you read on. Achieving your writing goals and fulfilling your writing dream are within your hands.

In the pages that follow, you will:

Identify your motivation for writing

Understand the relationship between motivation and goal setting

Learn why goal setting can assist you in fulfilling your writing dream

Establish your own long- and short-term goals

Marvel at the magic of 10 minutes

Recognise your writing threshold and work with it

Build neural pathways

Write and write some more

Learn how to become opportunistic

Find time to do other pleasurable activities

Still love your family and friends

Still be loved by your family and friends

You will achieve these through:

Reflective writing

Spontaneous writing

Stating clear long- and short-term goals

Counting words

Hearing what the experts have to say

Useful tips and strategies

This book is geared towards the writer completing a larger work – a novel but can be applied across all creative writing styles. It is designed for you to work through a process that asks you to reflect and respond, write, establish goals and practise them. You might decide to read straight through, but the best effects will be gained by travelling step-by-step. It’s up to you.

What you’ll find in this book are questions that ask for a response (space is given for writing should you prefer to keep it all together); writing exercises; research findings; tips; quotes of inspiration; and a journal template. I have also included personal anecdotes about my own experience and thoughts.

So ... let’s get you on your way.

MOTIVATION

So, you want to write?

I did. It wasn’t a burning passion that kept me awake at nights dreaming of being an impoverished writer in a Parisian attic, but rather, it was something that snuck up on me.

I dithered and doodled and managed to write a few short stories that, reading back on them now, were ‘cute’. I didn’t have a big dream - that came later, but I did decide I wanted to learn more about this writing thing.

You see, I didn’t study literature or finish my Year 12 English, for that matter. I didn’t get to read hefty tomes that might have inspired me and shown me the way. Oh, I read, but by seventeen, I was married and a mother, my education was curtailed, and I didn’t go to university until I was twenty-six. By then, I’d met my current partner, and between us, we had three children. So, I took myself back to school and trained to be a science teacher. But that’s another story.

Those ‘cute’ little stories written in spare moments began to accumulate, and my desire to learn grew. The following is the trajectory of my writing life to date, most of it tucked into the sides of the full-time life as a science teacher, partner, mother and later, grandmother:

Correspondence course (I think they went out of business before I finished it)

Short creative writing course at the CAE (Centre for Adult Education where I now teach). This felt like such a luxury at the time. I’d taken my first batch of long service leave and thought I’d entertain the idea of being a writer. It was in this class that I received the first feedback that suggested I wasn’t too bad at all at writing. That was enough to make me want more.

Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT (I enrolled as a part-time student to undertake a class of creative writing after work one night a week. When I went in to enrol, I had no idea what unit I wanted to do. Short story (because of those cute ones) was the obvious choice, or poetry. I was at the back of the line, and by the time I got to the counter, the only thing left was ‘Novel Writing’. ‘Okay,’ I said. And so it began. My first novel began here).

Master of Arts at Melbourne University (my first novel was completed here)

PhD (Creative Arts) Melbourne University (my second novel and an exegesis on mythic structures in Australian women’s literature were completed here).

You’ll have your own story, the reasons you came to writing. Remind yourself here:

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You could argue that I didn’t really need to do all these courses. And you’d be right! However, what I’ve determined over these ten years of teaching creative writing in undergraduate degrees, TAFE, and short courses is that some of us want/need/like to rise to the expectation of someone else. For myself, it had a lot to do with a lack of confidence in assessing my own worth. I didn’t want to fool myself that I was good when perhaps I wasn’t. I had a family and a mortgage and, quite frankly, I didn’t want to waste anyone’s time.

I have taught hundreds of people who dream of writing a novel (or other). Their intention is sincere, their dream is strong, but the harsh reality is that most of them will abandon the dream. The problem lies partly in the fact that it remains a dream rather than becoming a goal.

The ideas, strategies and theories presented here have been developed in response to this reality. I want my students and you, who are also my writing peers, to achieve their/your writing dreams.

So, let’s begin by looking at yours. You’ll need a pen and this book, or a computer.

What’s your motivation?

Record your responses to the following questions in the space that follows, or type and save. It’s good to have a record to revisit later. Give yourself a few minutes to think and to write for each. Take your time. It’s always a pleasure to write anyway, isn’t it?

What do you like to write (write about)? (e.g., mother’s biography, political intrigue, a contemporary coming-of-age story)

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Of course, everyone is going to have their personal preferences, but this is significant. Identifying your preferences, your likes/dislikes is important to finding your own voice. You won’t be motivated if you’re copying someone else. It has to be about you.

Why do you like to write? What do you get out of it?

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Frequent responses include: the sense of flow or immersion - time ‘stands still’; the satisfaction of doing something for yourself; sorting things out in your mind or about the world; creating new worlds and different experiences; the pleasure of words; to win the Booker Prize.

What are your dreams (desires/hopes) for your writing?

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Frequent responses include: to finish the book; for the satisfaction of knowing I’ve done it; to write my mother’s story; to satisfy a long-held need; to be published.

Take a break. Take a breath.

Is there anything that concerns you about writing? (Examples of this might include - I’m not good enough; I’m not going to finish it; I don’t have the time; I’m not going to be published.)

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The typical responses are those above. I’ll share one of mine that’s not included there: I sometimes fear the immersion itself. Why? Because I have many other aspects of my life waiting in the wings, and they can be very demanding. Immersing myself can mean I don’t want to come out of it when there’s a meal that needs to be cooked or other. Perhaps you can relate.

Pause. Now, this is the big one:

How much do you really want to do this? How important is it to you? Be very honest with yourself.

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There isn’t a typical response to this. However, it’s very important that you know the answer. If you’re half-hearted, I suggest you don’t keep going (though, of course, you might be stimulated by the end of the book and be full-hearted!).

To write to the end is to be brave. Consider this: What’s at stake if you don’t do it?

Think about that and write it here:

If I don’t do this

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I believe that it is important to you to finish your writing project; otherwise, you wouldn’t have acquired this guide.

You’re undertaking a journey that will have its measure of ups and downs as any interesting journey has. Yes, you do need to be brave, but you don’t actually have to do this, do you? You want to do it, isn’t that correct? So rather than gritting your teeth and steeling yourself for the road ahead, what if we travel it together with a light-hearted sense that it will be one of the best trips you’ve ever taken.

Determining your motivation to undertake a writing project is essential for goal setting, the next step in our process, and there is a reciprocal relationship between them. That is, the more motivated you are, the more likely you are to achieve your goals, and, as you set goals and achieve them, your motivation is increased.

Motivation can be intrinsically generated, for example, the desire to create beautiful prose. Alternatively, extrinsic motivation relies on an external factor, such as the prospect of being published. A grey area might be when you want to improve your writing skills (intrinsic) and put in more effort if it is to be assessed by a teacher or workshopped with peers (extrinsic). This is one of the reasons why writing courses are so popular, though once the extrinsic motivator (teacher/peers) is removed, the intrinsic motivation can wane. See Teresa Amabile’s study

Amabile identified seven reasons for writing being defined as intrinsic: getting pleasure out of reading something you have written; enjoying the opportunity for self-expression; achieving new insights through your writing; deriving satisfaction from expressing yourself clearly and eloquently; feeling relaxed when writing; enjoying the play with words; enjoying becoming involved with ideas, characters, events and images in your writing (396).

This book works from the premise that time management techniques can lead to greater creativity, and that intrinsic motivation can be enhanced by building a daily pattern to help sustain the writing journey. This is not to suggest that extrinsic motivation is the bad guy. It’s what got me off the verandah (I’ll explain more later.) to take the first step as an almost unemployable mother of three, to fulfil a dream of having her own home. See what Baer and McKool say

What’s important here is to determine the level of your motivation. Whether intrinsic, extrinsic or a blend, the deeper your desire to complete something, the more likely you will. There’s good news, too, for those who feel like they haven’t been blessed with a motivational wand at birth. See Sternberg

That sounds easy, doesn’t it? If that’s the case, and you have already determined from your responses earlier that your motivation is strong, then perhaps it’s unnecessary to read on.

But wait. We need to have a talk - about the elephant in the room. The big P (or R) - Procrastination (or Resistance).

Before we go there, let’s take a writing break. (Hang on! That’s just procrastinating talking about procrastination! Well spotted. We’ll tackle it in the next chapter).

EXERCISE 1: SPONTANEOUS WRITING

Go with it and trust me on this one. There is a point.

I’m going to give you a lead-in of a few words for you to continue in any way you like. If you’re in the process of writing something (novel, short story ...), perhaps steer it to that. It’s up to you.

However, as much as is possible, switch off your internal editor and just write for 10 minutes.

Don’t take your pen off the page or your fingers off the keys. If you don’t know what to write, then write that! ‘I don’t know what to write, but Amanda says I have to and ...’

Set your timer for 10 minutes. You can use the space below if you would like to. Here are your words:

There are times when

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Now that you’re back:

As you can see, I’ve called this exercise ‘spontaneous writing’, otherwise known as ‘free-flow’ or ‘stream