• By Winston Kuwada
• Published 02/14/2012
• Writing

Many people have a dream of walking into a book store and seeing their novel up on the shelf. Traveling around the country (or the world) and signing books, and giving speeches about how to become a successful novelist is a dream for many. However, few people actually pursue this passion. Instead, they are content to sit by the side and watch others follow their dreams. Since you are reading this article, you are different. You are one of the few who has taken the steps to make your dream become a reality. However, you’ve got to know that it isn’t easy. You can just sit down in front of a typewriter or computer and wait for the magic to happen. You’ve got to make it happen. One mistake that many people make is waiting for inspiration before they write. This causes people to sit for long hours looking at a blank screen and getting more and more dejected. The secret is to write whatever comes to mind, even if it is sheer garbage. You’ll have plenty of time later on to go through your manuscript and separate the good stuff from the junk. After all, that’s what sculptors do, chip away the rock and expose the piece of art underneath. Another mistake people make when writing their novel is only writing when they feel motivated. Those that continuously write best selling novels year after year know the secret is to write every day, at the same time, for the same amount of time. You truly have to treat it like it’s a job. Your job, which it is. Even if you feel like laying in bed all day or watching TV, get up and write. Don’t wait until you feel “creative,” because you never will. With that idea in mind, make sure your writing space is conducive to working, not sitting around dreaming for magical bouts of inspiration to come floating down from the sky. You are working, to create a product, that you hope many people will buy. With that in mind, you’ve got to work like you are struggling to get your own business off the ground, which you are doing in a real sense. Keeping motivation is extremely important. Since you’ll be going on for long stretches of time with nothing but your imagination of the future to keep you from giving up, creating a powerful image of your future success is essential.

When you stick to it, and realize what you are in for, then writing a novel can be like clockwork. Just keep at it, and never give up.