| There's a great load of advice available on how to | | | | 6. How do you handle interruptions? One of the |
| set up an office perfect for writing how-to books. | | | | problems with needing people around you when |
| You can find advice on the internet. You can find | | | | you write is that sometimes those people will try |
| it in writing magazines. You can find it in books. | | | | to talk to you. Of course, they'll do it at the |
| But it's often contradictory and often doesn't | | | | worst possible time. Do you concentrate so hard |
| work in real life. | | | | you don't hear? Do you answer without breaking |
| Why? | | | | stride? Do you get all caught up in the |
| Because you need to know what your writing | | | | interruption? How do your interruptions handle you |
| style is. Not the one on the paper but the one | | | | ignoring them? If you don't handle interruptions |
| that gets those words to the paper. In this article, | | | | well, or your interruptions get upset at being |
| I'm going to give you 10 questions to ask yourself | | | | ignored, you will need a separate office. |
| to discover your style of writing. | | | | 7. What physical conditions do you need to worry |
| 1. Are you going to write several how-to books | | | | about? None of us want to admit that we are |
| or just one? If you are going to be a professional | | | | overweight. But if we are, then our needs in |
| then you need to get the best setup you can | | | | seating will be affected. Are you short sighted? |
| from the very beginning. After all, anything you | | | | Then you need to worry about the size of your |
| use will need to last through many uses. Your | | | | computer monitor. Do you need to change |
| office and the tools you use are like a chef's | | | | position frequently? Do you need to schedule |
| knives. You will want to use the same ones for a | | | | exercise times? Again this may affect where you |
| large part of your career. Learning to use new | | | | want to put your office and also the equipment |
| tools every time you write a book is a pain. | | | | you need. |
| 2. What type of writing will you be doing? Writing | | | | 8. Do you do embarrassing things when you |
| novels, writing how-to books, writing textbooks or | | | | write? No, this isn't a joke. When I wrote fiction I |
| writing articles all involve different requirements. | | | | would often pace while thinking out conversations. |
| After all, each will require you to write for longer | | | | Why? Because I was acting out the interaction. |
| periods at a time. Taking a break after one article | | | | Fiction writers have been described as actors with |
| is rather different than taking a break after one | | | | a fear of the stage. If you do embarrassing things |
| chapter. Plans for a novel require frequently take | | | | then you probably need to remove yourself to a |
| up a whole wall. The plan for a how-to book can | | | | separate room -- if only to avoid the even more |
| be limited to a single sheet. | | | | embarrassing questions. |
| 3. Where do you get your inspiration from? | | | | 9. How will you write? Most of us use a |
| Writing is a mix of creativity and craft. Where | | | | computer, but that's not the only way to do it. |
| you get your inspiration from will depend to a | | | | You could hand write your book, and then send |
| certain extent on what type of writing you do. A | | | | the result out for typing. You could dictate your |
| fiction writer may get it from watching people. A | | | | book, and then send the result out for |
| non-fiction writer may get ideas, questions and | | | | transcription. You could drag your computer along |
| answers from clients or other writers. | | | | with you. Or you could leave it sitting at home. |
| 4. What conditions do you think best in? Writing | | | | You could print manuscripts yourself or send |
| isn't just a matter of sitting at a typewriter in a | | | | them out to a quick print shop. Or you could do a |
| small garret in Paris cranking out poetry. Writing | | | | mix of any or all of them. The answer to this |
| needs to be planned. What will you write? In what | | | | question will give you a hint as to what equipment |
| order will you write it? What characters do you | | | | and types of equipment you will need. |
| need? What topics do you want to include? What | | | | 10. How much can you afford? Let's face it; |
| points do you want to emphasize? | | | | setting up a home office is expensive. Even if you |
| 5. What conditions do you write best in? Once | | | | are a creative decorator, the cost of equipment |
| you have the idea, once you have the inspirations, | | | | can set you back. A computer will run you at |
| once you've planned your writing, you need to put | | | | least $500 and a good LCD monitor another $200. |
| words to paper. Do you need quiet to write? Do | | | | And it's great to decide you need that $1000 |
| you need sound around you? Do you need music | | | | ergonomic chair but if you've only got $50 you've |
| to inspire you? | | | | got a problem. |