6/24 Excerpt from "Word Soup: Easy recipe to Pen! Publish! Profit!"

GOOD WRITING HABITS

If you are ready to invest your time and effort, you can establish the specific periods during which you will be able to write. If you’re not truly invested in it, the results will likely be mediocre at best. It’s important to have a genuine passion for writing, as it allows your creativity to flourish and your words to truly resonate with readers. If writing feels like a burden or an obligation, it may be time to explore other hobbies or activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Writing requires dedication and commitment, and without the fire of passion, it may not yield the desired outcome. Here are some suggestions to set the stage.

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·???????? Write Daily.

????? No matter how busy you are, dedicate some time every day to indulge in your writing practice. This could be during your lunch break at work, where you can ponder over your novel and potentially stumble upon new ideas. Once you arrive home, ensure that you integrate those ideas into your writing. By adding just a few words to your story each day, you consistently propel it forward. Developing a consistent practice of writing every day brings significant advantages. You will feel a rewarding sense of achievement as many small successes build up.

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·???????? Be a Plot Guru

To improve your own writing skills, it’s essential to read books written by other authors. While reading for pleasure is enjoyable, it’s also beneficial to analyze the plot of these works. Prior to finishing a book, make an effort to jot down your predictions regarding how the story will unfold. Daytime serials can be particularly helpful in honing this skill, as they constantly leave you wondering what will happen next. This practice allows you to engage with the material not only as a viewer, but also as a writer, enhancing your understanding of storytelling techniques. I enjoy engaging in a little mind game where I attempt to foresee the upcoming plot twists of a soap opera as its story unravels day by day. I’m usually right but sometimes the plot diverges in a different direction, one I hadn’t thought of and surprises me.

Additionally, a movie serves as a condensed way to tell a complete story within a two-hour timeframe. Writers should embrace their addiction to stories and pay close observation to the movie’s structure, pacing, and which aspects resonate with them, while being mindful of what doesn’t.

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·???????? Find Your Niche.

This not only refers to finding what genre best suits your writing style and interest but also your physical writing space. On the former, many writers are known for their genre be it mystery books or romance. This can be particularly helpful in cultivating a readership. On the latter, where do you write? Are you fortunate enough to have a home office or bedroom where you can hunker down without any distractions? It’s important to set up your special place to write and let the world go by. Develop a habit to go to that happy place at a specific time of day for a specific period of time.

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·???????? Self-Reflection.

The journey starts with you, the writer, driven by your ideas and the aspiration to see your creation in print, adorned by a captivating cover and artistic design. It stems from your unwavering belief that the power lies within you to make this dream a reality. Be kind to yourself during those moments when inspiration seems elusive. Refuse to let frustration weigh you down. Instead, forge ahead, and let the journey of writing unfold.

Every time you accomplish something, no matter how small, place a penny in the jar and observe with self-satisfaction as the jar gradually fills up. When you have completed writing your novel, take those pennies and buy yourself something tasty like a hearty bowl of soup.

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