For many wannabe writers, the reasons for not putting pen to paper and at least starting the novel are legitimate. Time, inspiration, insufficient knowledge and lack of confidence are justifiable grounds for a lack of story ? at least more often than not.
For the sizeable minority of less than exemplary reasons not to pen a new bestseller, I offer the following advice ? don't write.
That's not the sort of advice you hear every day, but it's quite legitimate. Writers tend to write because they either have a drive to get a story down on paper or for the love of the craft.
In any other aspect of life, people who make excuses don't want to get their hands dirty. So why should writing be any different? Books on the subject come up with 1001 tips on how to overcome the inertia that so many would be authors suffer from. So let's consider 1002 in some more detail.
Writing for the newcomer should be pleasurable. That's regardless of how many pages have been committed to paper already. I expect there are a significant number of ?started but discarded? manuscripts out there to add to the ?yet to be written? stories. If you can't find the time or the inclination to write, then my advice is ? don't. It's quite simple really.
Consider the person who knows they should go to the gym, but has a list of excuses why they can't go today. The simple truth is that they would prefer to watch TV or read the paper than to exercise. They know that they ought to work out, but the desire not to is stronger.
And so it is with the aspiring writer. They may have a great idea but something is stopping them from switching on the laptop and starting to type. Again it might be TV or reading, but the bottom line is that these pastimes are more engaging than writing.
I could give you 1001 tips on how to overcome the obstacles to writing, but the reticent writer could think of 1002 reasons why it won't work for them.
What I'm not saying is that these unforthcoming authors ought not to write. Nor am I saying they will never write. What I am saying is that, at this moment in time, they should listen to what their inner voice that is trying to tell them, in so many ways, that now is not a good time.
And if now is not a good time, then that's OK. If later turns out to be the right time, they can write then. And if later isn't right, then writing a novel just wasn't to be.
The entire writing process can be hard work ? even for seasoned writers. Many find editing a chore but carry on for the love of the craft. They couldn't imagine doing anything other than writing. Until you find that point in your life, don't waste any more New Year's resolutions.
How will you know when the moment is right? As they say on all the best martial arts movies ? you'll just know. In simple terms, the desire to write will outweigh the reasons not to.
Who said you have to be totally original to write a great university dissertation. If you were that good, you'd be the professor, not the student. So a certain level of amateur content is permitted. Just don't copy a sample essay word-for-word. That's a guarantee of doom. Read the sample dissertation, understand what it says, and then promptly forget what's written.
Seeing a sample essay is very helpful for any essay writer. Ask your friends and seniors for a sample dissertation that was well-appreciated. In fact it won't hurt even asking your professor as long as the topic of the sample dissertation you ask for is not the same as your essay.
When you get a good sample dissertation, observe its style. Check how it's written, how the topics are organized, how it is structured, the type of words used. Your aim is to identify all the positive things about the sample essay so that you can incorporate the same positive qualities in your essay too.
Also try to look for flaws that make the sample essay weak and should be avoided in your writing. It's easier to find flaws in someone else's writing than your own and if you learn to spot all the common mistakes with the help of the sample dissertation, you won't make the same mistakes yourself.
So it's a good idea asking for a sample dissertation that was very well received, and a sample essay that was considered a failure. The good one will tell you what to do, and the bad one will tell you what not to do. Armed with this twin knowledge, you will know exactly how to prepare your own dissertation.
The last thing you need to remember is: never copy the sample dissertation that somebody else has handed over. These are the days of copyscape and tech-savvy professors. If your dissertation is copied from a sample essay, the professor might find out and then you could get a very bad grade. Try to put in your original thoughts even if you're not very confident.
You can also employ outside help in honing the dissertation, getting it edited and verifying that the concepts explained in it are all original. Use the sample dissertation for style, not for content. Plagiarism is like using an axe on your own foot. In fact stop looking at the sample essay when you start writing your own dissertation. Otherwise you might get influenced at the subconscious level and make the mistake of copying something.
Both Mark Walton & Grojan Fabiola are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mark Walton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Writing, Cover Letter and Writing. Mark Walton is the author of 28 Step Guide to Writing a Novel From Scratch, a self-help guide for writers. If you want to improve your chances of getting a story published then visit. Mark Walton's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.
Grojan Fabiola has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Improvement, Information Technology and Estate Planning. For more resources about or even about please review this page. Grojan Fabiola's top article generates over 1830000 views. to your Favourites.