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You are here: Home / Archives for writer’s block

writer's block

Write ’em lean, keep ’em keen

1 June, 2012 by Alex

I don’t know how other authors chart their ideas, but I keep an ideas folder on my computer. Every time an idea pops up, I create a new folder, and then scribble some notes in a word file (probably writing a synopsis too) and store it away. I’ll maybe even highlight the file in yellow!

If I’m working on the idea, I’ll highlight it in purple, just because I’m crazy. (I’d love to show a screen grab of the open window with all the idea folders, but it would be like revealing all my state secrets, and I sadly can’t do that.)

If I’m feeling really excited by an idea, I may draw some of the characters and save them in the folder too. The African Grey Parrot illustration above is one of those, from an idea that I’ve been working on for the past few months. I drew it before I’d written the story, and it really flavoured how I wrote the character.

Having all these folders means just one thing: when you finish one book, there are ideas fully formed and waiting to happen just sitting there in your computer. I believe I’ve got enough ideas stockpiled to last me at least for the next five years.

Now the point of this post is to talk about book length.

The lovely thing about writing for children is that books can vary from 100 to 50,000 words. Any longer and you’ve generally got boredom in book form.

I don’t get writer’s block. I don’t really think it exists. After all, if you work in an office doing accounts, and you spend a day watching the internet go by rather than accounting, you don’t have accountant’s block do you?

So if I get tired by doing a few hours work on one story, I’ll jump onto another idea and feel rejuvenated. This means that the ideas in those folders gradually get more worked up, and sometimes even get finished.

It’s here that I can say I finished the first draft of the novel that this parrot features in this week. It’s a secret thing, that no-one really knows about. It was in one of those folders, and gradually, in my spare time, I wrote it alongside my contracted work. I guess I work pretty hard, but I feel that if you want something finished, stop messing around and get it done.

I like to follow Stephen King’s advice that if you write a page a day in your spare time (maybe 300 words), you’ll have a book in a year. And obviously, if you’re writing a children’s book, you can write a lot of books in a year if you keep that speed up.

So there you go. This novel is 20,000 words – nice and lean – and I started it February. I have others coming to fruition too. And I find having a few ideas tumbling around at once keeps a fire burning in my belly for writing. Not all of my books are going to be this short (or this long), but the sense of completion is overwhelmingly positive.

So if any writer is feeling tired by their idea, my advice would be to step away and write a 3000 word young reader book about a space alien eating all the human pies in the galaxy. Writing ’em lean can really keep you keen.

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: writer's block, writing advice

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Latest book out now!

Big Sky Mountain

By Alex Milway

Welcome to Big Sky Mountain: a home for everyone!

Rosa has come from the city to live with Grandma Nan in the wilds of Big Sky Mountain. And what surprises are in store for her! Grandma Nan is not exactly an ordinary grandma, and Big Sky Mountain is like nowhere Rosa has dreamed about before. Grandma Nan lives in an old wooden cabin with Albert the moose and Little Pig the pygmy owl, and spends every day out on adventures. From canoeing down rapids to making friends with the local animals, life never stays still for long on Big Sky Mountain!

An exhilarating new series set in the great outdoors, from HOTEL FLAMINGO author Alex Milway.

An excellent early reader book for children aged 4-8

Funny and charming; Alex Milway has made me want to fly right into Big Sky Mountain myself. – Andy Shepherd, author of The Boy Who Grew Dragons

I want to go to Big Sky Mountain! It’s the rugged wilderness, but much softened by a comfy bear who’s a travelling salesman, a moody architect hare and some busy builder beavers who still have to learn about how to get along with the rest of the community. – Sarah McIntyre, illustrator of Pugs of the Frozen North

This is a perfect, big-hearted adventure story, with pictures and laughs on every page and an environmental message delivered with the lightest touch. Once you have met the wonderful cast of talking animals, warmed to Nan’s peculiar ways and found your feet in the wilderness, like Rosa you’ll never want to leave Big Sky Mountain. – Clara Vulliamy

As a HUGE fan of feisty grandmothers I LOVED Grandma Nan in Big Sky Mountain! Wise, capable and fearless, she is the perfect role model for her granddaughter Rosa. A wild adventure with an important message, bravo! – Sophy Henn, author and illustrator of Bad Nana

The perfect adventure to rewild young readers – Benji Davies, author and illustrator of Grandad’s Island

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