In my years of wanting to be an author, I've read all kinds of tips and hints and tricks, and after all of that, what it boils down to is find your own system when it comes to writing.
Generally, you're told to write every day (that's novel writing), but that wouldn't necessarily hold here. Marinating might be the best way, really.
I've literally marinated on over a dozen ideas for 20 years. Then, the novels I ended up writing were ones I'd just barely thought about doing a few months prior. But by the time I got around to getting them out of my brain, it took all of 2.5 months to write both of them. So, in my case, they just started to download.
Of course, then they took six months each to get edited. :) Okay, that wasn't done by an editor who had nothing better to do but work on my book, but it was an eye opening experience for me. I wasn't nearly as consistent as I thought I was, and you really need to be a stickler with continuity. You can't be too fast and free with that, because the reader will pick up on the errors quickly.
In your case, you don't have to worry about deadlines, and you can take your time. I would just suggest that you set a reasonable, doable deadline goal (taking in account everything you have and might have going on), and then work on it as inspiration strikes. Maybe that's not the best idea, because my inspiration tends to come when my mind is trying to shut down and go to sleep.
Not very convenient Mr. Brain, since my laptop is nowhere near my bed. Maybe I should move it in.
Nah. Wife would freak! :)
Ha ha, I'll start with the last part. I'm very disciplined about not having my laptop or phone in the bedroom. I go there to sleep and I don't want to lose sleep because I'm thinking about what's happening on Steemit, or with friends, or whatever. I've read a number of articles that support this type of habit, so I'm sticking with it.
As far as writing the story, yes, I think it would help to be a little more consistent. I have a few things that are changing in real life and once they shake out and I'm able to see what time I'll have available, I'll be able to schedule a little better and have time set aside for writing. Then I won't be free to just wander around Steemit as much, but at least I'll be more productive.
Thanks for the encouragement! Hey, 20 years is a long time. I wonder if they're ready for writing yet? :D
I need to finish the third book so I have a proper trilogy. Then, maybe I could get the other ones out.
With some of them, it will require some extensive research since they will be period pieces, and I don't have the knowledge on my own. Cool thing is, the internet is an awesome and fast research tool. It helped a lot with the two books I've already self-published.
What's not helping is, I'm caught up in a few comic book series story lines now. Then, there's Steemit, and trying to get it going. So, I don't know what's going to shake out. I'd love to get back to the novel writing, though.
That'd be cool if you had a whole trilogy to sell. You could sell it on Amazon!
Yeah, period pieces are touch because if you don't have the knowledge already, you have to the aforementioned research. The internet is awesome for research. You can look up all kinds of different topics.
Steemit really is a time-sucker. You can get lost in it for hours if you're not careful. ;)
The first two books are on Amazon as ebooks only. The Foolish and the Weak was published in 2012 and The Wise and the Mighty was published in 2013.
The internet is an amazing place for information, and I think it's wholly underutilized as far as that goes. Too much time spent on Social Media. :)
Yeah, it's possible to get sucked into Steemit, but there are some benefits to it that's hard to find elsewhere.
Hey, that's still cool that you've gotten them published! Many people have never even done that. Good for you!
Far too much time is spent on social media. People doing things like commenting on other people's comments. Then replying to those replies. Seriously, they should do better things with their time. :D
Seriously. Like figure out taxes, or get teeth pulled, or submit to a TSA pat down, or binge watch The Big Bang Theory.
Okay, that last one might be a fairly worthwhile endeavor.
Ha ha ha, it's like you're reading my comments! Taxes are (hopefully) getting worked on. I need to follow up with my guy on Monday. We'll give him the Lord's Day (with the added weight of Easter) off... but Monday morning, its back to the grindstone!
Big Bang Theory binge has been going well! :)