Step One – The Basics
The basics of writing must be in place for a writer to be ready to write. Sometimes a writer has an idea, but it is still not written. The idea needs to be developed, to be put on paper. The writer needs to start writing.
Look over the following important aspects of your writing. Check mark Yes or No, if you'd like. No answer is correct or incorrect. When you know how you answered, you will know a great deal more about the skill you bring to your writing.
Yes ___ No ___ Do I have a story to tell?
Yes ___ No ___ Is my writing typed or word processed?
Yes ___ No ___ Is my story fiction or non-fiction?
Yes ___ No ___ Do I know who my reading audience is?
Yes ___ No ___ Do I know what works similar to mine are published?
Yes ___ No ___ Is my manuscript a book – 250 pages, 50,000 words?
Yes ___ No ___ Is my manuscript an article?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I developed an outline?
Yes ___ No __ _Have I done my research to check the facts?
Yes ___ No ___ Do I have a theme or main point?
Yes ___ No ___ Is the theme consistent throughout?
Yes ___ No ___ Do I have a specific setting?
Yes ___ No __ _Have I determined a point of view?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I read my work aloud?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I revised my work several times?
Step Two – Construction
The clarity of your writing corresponds directly to the impact of your writing. If you display knowledge and attention to details of good writing and editing, you work will have the mark of an authentic writer. Analyze these questions and apply them to your work. In your writing, it is vital to maintain good grammar, spelling punctuation, composition, and the proper format as accepted by publishers and the reading public.
Yes ___ No ___ Are my sentences short, declarative sentences?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I eliminated adjectives?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I eliminated all adverbs?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I used strong verbs?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I personally checked the spelling?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I used parallel construction at times?
Yes ___ No __ _Have I chosen the correct word when the words sound alike? (too, to, two)
Yes ___ No ___ Do I remember that it's means "it is" and its is the possessive?
Step Three – Presentation
The mark of a professional writer is determined by the quality of the presentation of the manuscript. The accepted manner in which you prepare and send in your manuscript is the first step in gaining attention of the agent or publisher.
Yes ___ No ___ Is my manuscript double spaced?
Yes ___ No ___ Are the margins one inch all around?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I inserted my name, address, email, phone in the upper left side of the first page?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I inserted my last name and key word from the title in every successive page?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I numbered the pages at the top right, except for the first page?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I prepared a cover page with the title and my name?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I remembered not to staple the pages?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I included a title on the first page?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I included a word count at the top of page one?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I eliminated all drawings, photographs and art work?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I used black ink only, and good quality paper?
Yes ___ No ___ Have I made a copy of my work and dated it?
Yes ___ No ___ Is my copy stored in a safe place away from my computer desk?
Step Four – References
Keep reference books on had at all times. Begin to collect books on writing, and look for the type of writing process you enjoy. Buy reference books, but also fiction and non-fiction books that you like to read sometimes there is research. Writers usually like to write the way their favorite authors write.
Yes ___ No ___ Do I have a Webster's College Dictionary?
Yes ___ No ___ Do I have a Roget's Thesaurus?
Yes ___ No ___ Do I have a book of quotations?
Yes ___ No ___ Do I have my William Zinsser's "On Writing Well"?