Find the Time to Finish that Manuscript
Diana Orgain shares tips with Book Divas on how to find the precious time to finish that special story tucked away--and get it done!
Thanks to the BookDivas for allowing me to contribute to this great section. As a busy mother of three children 6 and under, I’m always getting asked how I find the time to write. Below are my quick tips on not only how to find the time, but also ideas on how to finish up that manuscript you’ve got hiding in your drawer. Now get going!
- Make the time to write: You have put aside time (ideally daily) to write. Don't wait to FIND the time that will never happen something will always take the time - remember Nature hates a void. So don't wait. Schedule the time to write and do it.
- Get feedback: Take a class or join a critique group (there are many writer's organizations in the Bay Area) you can join your local chapter and create your own critique group. Getting unbiased feedback is critical to moving ahead. You have to learn how to polish your work and a class or group can help you move ahead faster.
- Make a habit of finishing: Don't leave your draft unfinished, whether it is a short story, poem, play, novel - doesn't matter. You must finish. As creative people we are always lured to the next idea. It's fresher, funnier, better in some way but this is a temptation that must be avoided.
After all, the new idea will need to be completed also and if you never get to the end of a project then you won't know how to finish. This step alone is the single most important piece of the creative process.
About Diana Orgain:
Diana Orgain holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University with a minor in acting. Diana’s plays have been produced at San Francisco State University, GreenHouse Productions, and PlayGround in San Francisco. She is the author of BUNDLE OF TROUBLE and MOTHERHOOD IS MURDER. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and their three children. Visit Diana at www.dianaorgain.com
