#4 When? - #5 Where?
Step #4: When should I write?
It's very similar to science when forming a hypothesis. You have your alternative hypothesis that is your original idea however, you always have a null hypothesis which is empirical evidence or facts that would in fact answer the objective question to the alternative.
(Reference to first step):
Remember the strength of your story compared to a boat? The module references one chain, however when in the process of writing you theoretically have multiple chains after each segment (i.e., Inciting incident, Rising Action, Falling Action,). Strictly speaking, you have multiple different directions you could take with your story right off the bat. Through consistent editing processes you take away those chains one by one to find which one works best. However this isn't the case with all writers; this information is relative to how a writer writes and the content of the writing itself.
Writing is a learning process the first story you write isn't always going to be the same case for the future stories you choose to write. If it is the same case then there is an absence of improvement.
This isn't a how-to-blog on how to write, this is a stepping off point for you to find your own way of writing. I'm merely guiding you in a direction and sharing my experiences for you to consider so you are aware as a writer. No one is perfect, but we can learn how to be better, and in all honesty it takes some failure to get to that point.
Steve Jobs was once at a seminar for college students and they asked him what is the secret or how does one achieve in creating something like the iPhone? He replied along these lines, "Fail early and fail often."
Thomas Edison was in the same circumstance in creating the light bulb, which he reported took 1,000 unsuccessful attempts. Reporters asked him how he felt about failing 1,000 times, he replied, "I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."
I tell this to everyone I know, failures and disappointments are important because without them you can't recognize what you really want. Failure is the next step to further achieving success. There is no person I know who achieved success without failing or trying to do so, if there was, it's not successful or an achievement.
So? Do you just write whenever you want? Well, yes and no.
You can't achieve your goal as a writer if you don't write anything in the first place. It's up to you and it starts with you. Get out of whatever is in your head and put it to words on documents. If that isn't enough or your stooped with moving any further -- edit it, change it, delete it, start again and again and again. Keep going, or rather at least keep writing no matter the direction because in reality it further completes what you are trying to achieve.
I attended a writing seminar where Ron Carlson spoke to us college students from BYU Idaho. He is recognized for many of his works, one of them being the famous book and also film called Kieth. That night sitting in the pews I was very critical of his work however, one advice he gave peeked my interest. One way that helped him write was by creating a schedule for himself. Being a night owl, such as himself, they can get most of their inspiration at night. So planning a sleeping schedule and routine can help fuel your inspiration accordingly.
Others are early birds who have more quiet time in the morning and set aside time for their writing that way. It doesn't have to be strictly writing your story alone that you set aside time for. It could be writing in your journal or reading a book. All in all it's important for you to set aside time for whatever best fuels your creative process.
However, this cannot be done without actually considering your priorities and/or circumstances. Setting aside time to fuel your inspiration should not be an excuse for procrastination against your higher priorities. Yet as I had also mentioned, completely disregarding your hobbies strictly for your higher priorities also prohibits you from truly improving. If you don't finish what you start isn't that considered giving up?
Ask yourself, what do you need and can writing fill that need? Don't make plans around writing make writing around your plans. Choose to act don't be acted upon or you undermine your responsibility. Which, frankly, undermines your accountability for your choices in order for you to take action and continue to do so.
Consider Abraham Maslow's theory of human motivation through a hierarchy of needs:
Esteem needs:
Self- Actualization:
What is motivating you? If you are barely scraping by for the basic needs of survival you would not be in the mental capacity to stop for a minute and read a book or draw a picture, which is what self- actualization is about. What is it that you need to master? Some of the most greatest works of art were created in artists later years. Give yourself time and your efforts will speak for themselves.
Step #5: Where should I write?
This step is personal preference. It's not only in accordance with making time but deciding a perfect place for what your making time for. Some people work very well at the window of a restaurant overlooking traffic of the inner city on their lat-top. Others however, write better in secluded dens of their basement where it is quiet. Deciding a place is deciding what atmosphere would best motivate you?
My personal preference of where I write is the highest balcony of a large auditorium at the University I go to. The seats are comfortable, the lighting is dim, and it's absolutely silent, while also listening to a specific choice of music that helps me think freely and creatively.
Notice my choice of place fills the needs of my dominant senses of learning. In order from highest to lowest for me is vision, auditory, and kinaesthetic. I like ambient lighting, instrumental electronic music, and comfortable chairs.
What about you? Go for a walk around town or neighborhood or house and pick a private/personal spot.
Once I finish major plot sequences in my stories I have to step away from them to give them more thought and consideration to the overall story, until I decide to either edit the remaining idea or continue with the material I have.
It's very similar to science when forming a hypothesis. You have your alternative hypothesis that is your original idea however, you always have a null hypothesis which is empirical evidence or facts that would in fact answer the objective question to the alternative.
(Reference to first step):
Remember the strength of your story compared to a boat? The module references one chain, however when in the process of writing you theoretically have multiple chains after each segment (i.e., Inciting incident, Rising Action, Falling Action,). Strictly speaking, you have multiple different directions you could take with your story right off the bat. Through consistent editing processes you take away those chains one by one to find which one works best. However this isn't the case with all writers; this information is relative to how a writer writes and the content of the writing itself.
Writing is a learning process the first story you write isn't always going to be the same case for the future stories you choose to write. If it is the same case then there is an absence of improvement.
This isn't a how-to-blog on how to write, this is a stepping off point for you to find your own way of writing. I'm merely guiding you in a direction and sharing my experiences for you to consider so you are aware as a writer. No one is perfect, but we can learn how to be better, and in all honesty it takes some failure to get to that point.
Steve Jobs was once at a seminar for college students and they asked him what is the secret or how does one achieve in creating something like the iPhone? He replied along these lines, "Fail early and fail often."
Thomas Edison was in the same circumstance in creating the light bulb, which he reported took 1,000 unsuccessful attempts. Reporters asked him how he felt about failing 1,000 times, he replied, "I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."
I tell this to everyone I know, failures and disappointments are important because without them you can't recognize what you really want. Failure is the next step to further achieving success. There is no person I know who achieved success without failing or trying to do so, if there was, it's not successful or an achievement.
So? Do you just write whenever you want? Well, yes and no.
You can't achieve your goal as a writer if you don't write anything in the first place. It's up to you and it starts with you. Get out of whatever is in your head and put it to words on documents. If that isn't enough or your stooped with moving any further -- edit it, change it, delete it, start again and again and again. Keep going, or rather at least keep writing no matter the direction because in reality it further completes what you are trying to achieve.
I attended a writing seminar where Ron Carlson spoke to us college students from BYU Idaho. He is recognized for many of his works, one of them being the famous book and also film called Kieth. That night sitting in the pews I was very critical of his work however, one advice he gave peeked my interest. One way that helped him write was by creating a schedule for himself. Being a night owl, such as himself, they can get most of their inspiration at night. So planning a sleeping schedule and routine can help fuel your inspiration accordingly.
Others are early birds who have more quiet time in the morning and set aside time for their writing that way. It doesn't have to be strictly writing your story alone that you set aside time for. It could be writing in your journal or reading a book. All in all it's important for you to set aside time for whatever best fuels your creative process.
However, this cannot be done without actually considering your priorities and/or circumstances. Setting aside time to fuel your inspiration should not be an excuse for procrastination against your higher priorities. Yet as I had also mentioned, completely disregarding your hobbies strictly for your higher priorities also prohibits you from truly improving. If you don't finish what you start isn't that considered giving up?
Ask yourself, what do you need and can writing fill that need? Don't make plans around writing make writing around your plans. Choose to act don't be acted upon or you undermine your responsibility. Which, frankly, undermines your accountability for your choices in order for you to take action and continue to do so.
Consider Abraham Maslow's theory of human motivation through a hierarchy of needs:
This simple diagram has a lot more depth and application to how we live then at first glance.
Physiological needs:
- Air
- Food
- Water
Safety needs:
- Financial
- Health
- Personal security
Love/Belonging needs:
- Family
- Friendship
- Intimacy
- "Lower Level" Needs respect from others; recognition, fame, status, etc,.
- "Higher Level" Need for self-respect; confidence, mastery, freedom, independence, inner competence, etc,.
- "What a man can be he must be."
- Achieve full potential.
- To achieve this need (according to Maslow) is to not only achieve the previous needs but to master them.
This step is personal preference. It's not only in accordance with making time but deciding a perfect place for what your making time for. Some people work very well at the window of a restaurant overlooking traffic of the inner city on their lat-top. Others however, write better in secluded dens of their basement where it is quiet. Deciding a place is deciding what atmosphere would best motivate you?
My personal preference of where I write is the highest balcony of a large auditorium at the University I go to. The seats are comfortable, the lighting is dim, and it's absolutely silent, while also listening to a specific choice of music that helps me think freely and creatively.
Notice my choice of place fills the needs of my dominant senses of learning. In order from highest to lowest for me is vision, auditory, and kinaesthetic. I like ambient lighting, instrumental electronic music, and comfortable chairs.
What about you? Go for a walk around town or neighborhood or house and pick a private/personal spot.
March 2014
Photo taken by Alaura Landoe in Quinalt, WA
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