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My writing style is willy nilly. I write children’s novels and poetry. Children’s novels demand imagination, well-crafted sentences, suspense, humor, intrigue, and a satisfying resolution that ties all the ends together.
And since my challenge is to grab the easily distracted nine-year-old’s attention, I must tell my story with fewer words. Brutal editing is my friend. It hurts to hack away so many beautiful phrases, insights, and musings that are beyond the ken of kids. But it has to be done. So, writing for children requires diligence.
But back to the point. My willy nilly habit means I write when I am inspired, I write when my characters have something to say, or when the next idea hits. I don’t sit down and force myself to put 1,000 words on paper every day, or set the timer for five hours and write, write, write.
My first novel, Wishes Are Free, has been universally praised by readers and reviewers and tough reviewers, too, like Kirkus Reviews and Book Life. And it won the bronze medal in Readers Favorite 2024 Competition in the Coming of Age category. This is the proof that willy nilly works...for me. As long as you stay at it, finish what you start, and see worthy results, there is no wrong way to do it.
As I have written, I throw the first rule out the window: Set a time to write every day and stick to it.
The second rule I ignore is: Wait until your first draft is complete before you edit.
Not for me. I edit each chapter fresh out of the oven. I get squrimy knowing the words need work, that the sentences need rearranging, honing or the scene is screaming for embellishment. I can’t sit still. I start editing right away.
For me, it is rare that a first draft chapter survives. It happens, but it’s the exception, not the rule. A couple of times nearly complete chapters came fully formed. I tried to find fault with them because it is so rare I thought, 'No, this must need work.' But they didn’t.
When it does happen, I try to figure out what I did differently that caused the dialogue to flow onto the page effortlessly. Why does it ordinarily take so many passes until the sentences meet my expectations?
There is no answer.
Sometimes, I think stories already exist. I am simply tapping into the source and word by word, phrase by phrase, rewrite by rewrite yanking them into this dimension.
Of course, the first rounds of editing are preliminary. I will go back again and again while finishing the book and after the last chapter is in place, start editing again from the beginning.
The next rule I ignore: Don’t over-edit, too much revision can kill your story.
As Becca Puglisi writes: 'Too much revision can also result in you killing your character’s voice as you fiddle and fuss with the text.'
I am a fiddler. I edit and edit and revise and revise until the story makes me laugh, or cry, or gives me happy chills.
I guess it all comes down to intuition. I know when to stop.
Am I suggesting you chuck tried and true rules? Absolutely not.
I am suggesting you pay attention to what works for you and what doesn’t. If you follow the rules and it works, you are on your way.
If you feel stuck or uninspired adhering to the rules, try something different. Or if you are already doing it differently, and it's working, that it is working is your validation!
There is no wrong way to write fiction.
Discover more on Diana’s website or connect with her via Instagram.