| I'm often asked if it would be possible to write a | | | | the research and planning, and the editing will |
| full-length book in just one weekend. Well, there's | | | | come later. So don't edit, don't change anything, |
| good news and bad news. | | | | and don't delete anything. Ignore all your mistakes, |
| The good news is that it's definitely possible. | | | | turn off the grammar and spell checker, ignore |
| But the bad news is it won't be easy. In fact it | | | | the word count, and don't format anything. If you |
| might be so exhausting that even if you manage | | | | think of a better way of saying something, just |
| to do it you'll be too tired to care. | | | | write it out again rather than going back and |
| I usually recommend that you allow yourself a | | | | altering what's already there - you can fix all that |
| whole month to write your book. But one | | | | stuff afterwards. |
| weekend? Well, okay: if you're properly prepared | | | | 7. Try writing your book using your e-mail |
| then it's just about doable. Here's what you need | | | | software instead of your word processor. Divide |
| to do: | | | | the text into, for example, eighty 1,000-word |
| | | | e-mails. (Not that you'll be counting the words). It's |
| 1. Prepare a very detailed plan and do all your | | | | a weird trick, but it works! |
| research (and thinking) before the weekend | | | | 8. Shut yourself away, turn off your phone and |
| begins. How detailed? Ideally you'll have a | | | | e-mail. (If you're using your e-mail software to |
| sentence (or a few key words) to represent | | | | write your book, find the setting that makes it |
| each paragraph in the finished book. You need to | | | | check for new messages every x minutes and |
| be completely happy with your plan before you | | | | turn it off.) Cancel or refuse any invitations, |
| start writing, because there won't be time to | | | | record any TV you'll miss, send your children to |
| change it once the writing is under way. If you're | | | | stay with friends or relatives, or get your partner |
| writing a novel you should also make sure your | | | | to take them camping. Have plenty of food and |
| know your characters and their voices inside out. | | | | drinks available. You don't want to stop for |
| 2. Stick to your plan rigidly during the weekend. | | | | anything when you get in the flow, so make sure |
| That means no going off at tangents, exploring | | | | everything you could possibly need is already |
| other directions, adding extra bits, letting your | | | | prepared and within easy reach. |
| characters take over to see where it might lead, | | | | 9. Don't write continuously for the whole weekend |
| or writing without a definite end-point in mind. You | | | | - you'll start to slow down every few hours as |
| can do that another time if you like, but not with | | | | your energy drains. Take a short break whenever |
| this book - you've only got one weekend and | | | | you feel this happening, have some food, move |
| you're on a very tight schedule, so there must be | | | | around, and you'll come back refreshed and ready |
| absolutely no deviation from the plan. | | | | to go again. (You can even talk to people during |
| 3. Don't try to write a 120,000-word novel. If | | | | your breaks!) A short walk outside can be a good |
| you're aiming for 80,000 to 90,000 words then | | | | idea - even if it's raining. Stretching is good too. |
| you should be fine, but if your book really needs | | | | Don't be tempted to try working right through |
| to be 120,000 words then spread it out over two | | | | the night - you should have enough time for a |
| weekends. | | | | good night's sleep. (But you might want to set |
| 4. You could type your whole book out in one | | | | your alarm so you don't sleep in for too long.) |
| weekend, but you don't have to. There are some | | | | 10. If you get stuck, get away from the writing |
| very good voice-recognition applications available, | | | | for a few minutes and do whatever you normally |
| such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking. You can speak | | | | do when you need to think a problem through. I |
| at your normal speed (which is much faster than | | | | usually take a bathroom break - three or four |
| most of us can type) and the software will do all | | | | minutes idly tracing tile patterns with my toes |
| the typing for you. I recommend getting the | | | | while I mull the problem over usually leads to a |
| Premium version of NaturallySpeaking, as this | | | | good solution, and I'm eager to get back to work. |
| allows you to use a digital voice recorder with it. | | | | If you've made a detailed plan to work from, |
| You'll then be able to move around and write in | | | | consider jumping around it rather than writing |
| different locations without being tied to your | | | | your book in strict chronological order. Mark each |
| computer. Another alternative is to record | | | | part as you complete it so you know which ones |
| yourself speaking and then give the recording to | | | | you've done. |
| somebody else to type. | | | | If you succeed, don't forget to celebrate your |
| 5. Try to think about what you'll say before you | | | | amazing achievement - you might want to have a |
| write it (or speak it). Compose each sentence in | | | | good sleep first though. And if you don't quite |
| your head - it's much faster than composing on | | | | make it, well, don't worry about it. There are |
| paper or on screen. | | | | fifty-two weekends each year so you can always |
| 6. This weekend is all about writing. And that | | | | finish your book another time. |
| means nothing but writing. You've already done | | | | |