Guest blogger, Carole Gift Page, continues to share her Ten Steps in Writing a Novel.
STEP SEVEN: BEGIN THE ACTUAL WRITING. Frankly, at any point in these first six steps you may find yourself compelled to begin your actual novel. That’s fine. When you’re ready, you’ll sense it. When that elusive muse nudges or inspires you, seize the opportunity to write. But don’t get so caught up in the writing that you neglect your organization and research. Let your story ripen; don’t pluck it when it’s green. By the same token, don’t let your story become overripe. That is, don’t get so caught up in the preparations for your novel that you never get around to writing it!
I suggest that you write an entire chapter at a sitting, if possible. Review your synopsis, character sketches and research materials as necessary. Then write freely, with minimal editing, visualizing your scenes and letting yourself experience your characters’ emotions. Have fun with your story. See your writing as a great adventure that heightens all of your senses and makes you prickle with excitement. What you feel as you write is what your reader will feel as he reads. If you feel you are slogging through the material and barely keeping your head above water, your reader will feel that same sense of drudgery. But if you take pleasure in the writing, your reader will take pleasure in the reading.