Writing Matters: Resources & More

Group of University Students at a Writing Retreat — A Group of University Instructors at a Writing Retreat

The First Draft

Fiction

Confession: I often spend too much time thinking about what to write when I should sit down and brainstorm on paper. I can spend hours thinking up a story with an amazing plot and cast of characters, but unless I get it down on paper, it’s just a daydream. Once I write down my synopsis, I begin to work on my cast of characters. Eventually, I’ll create a plotline map, complete with plot points, subplot(s), and character arc. After that I break each part of the plotline into scenes and begin working on them–if I haven’t already. When I’m “fleshing out” my characters, I love to put them in scenes and have them interact with each other. I can always revise the scene later, of course.

Nonfiction

Brainstorming is never a bad way to begin to find a focus, though in this case, it might be a good idea to do some research first. Say I wanted to write about newspapers that published serialized fiction in 19th-century Boston. I’d start by doing some research online and in a public library where I’d be able to access databases.I’d be sure to keep track of my sources, including the page numbers where I find the information, and distinguish between direct quotations and paraphrased material. Quotations need quotation marks and attributions. Even paraphrased material needs attributions in most cases. In the past, we writers ended up with a lot of index cards after researching their topic. Nowadays, we can store the information digitally.

Revising to be Read

Once we’ve completed a draft, we often shift our attention to our prospective readers. Our questions might look more like these:

- Who will want to read what we’ve written?
- How will it be received?
- Should I workshop my manuscript or attend a writing retreat?
- How can we ensure that our writing secures a publisher and an audience?

And if we can’t find a publisher, we might wonder:

- How much does it cost to self-publish?
- How do I market my books?

The Useful Resources listed below should help you find answers to at least some of your questions.

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