Write What You … by Rochelle Melander

Note From Rochelle

Dear Writers,

I just looked at the calendar and realized that National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) starts three weeks from Friday. Yikes! That means, it’s time to start planning! If you’re thinking about joining the NaNoWriMo mayhem, then keep reading these tips. Every Tuesday from now until November, I’ll be sharing writing exercises to help you plan and prepare for National Novel Writing Month. Today’s tip provides you with a fun tool to begin planning your book.

Happy writing, Rochelle, the Write Now! Coach

Write What You …

by Rochelle Melander

You’ve heard the advice:

Write what you know. —Mark Twain

Write what you don’t know about what you know. —Eudora Welty

Others say, write to discover what you don’t know.

Whatever.

How about this: write what delights you.

[Tweet “Would you rather write what you know or write what delights you?”]

Every so often, I come across a book that’s just plain delicious. I felt that way when I discovered Alan Bradley’s delightful series of mysteries featuring 11-year-old scientist and sleuth Flavia de Luce (The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie). I loved the character and her adventures. I had a similar feeling of delight when I read Lisa Lutz’s The Spellman Files about a dysfunctional family of sleuths.

What about you? What delights you? Who would you love to spend time writing about? Make a list of novel elements that delight you. Consider:

Genre

Character

Setting

Time Period

Plot

Point of View

Added Value (This is often the stuff that makes a book rich and fun for you. It may not fall into the categories above. For example, I love books that have recipes in them—like the novel Bread Alone. I may never use them, but it’s fun to imagine.)

Once you make your list, put it away. Let your subconscious think about the book you will write this year. As ideas show up for you, take notes. Next week’s tip will tell you what to do with all those notes—so stay tuned!

Your turn:

[Tweet “What books delight you?”]